Rosuvastatin Reduces Blood Viscosity in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

• Published in: Korean circulation journal Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 147 - 153
• Main Authors: Jung, Lae-Young, Lee, Sang-Rok, Jung, Jin-Mu, Kim, Yi-Shik, Lee, Sun-Hwa, Rhee, Kyoung-Suk, Chae, Jei-Keon, Lee, Dong-Hwan, Kim, Dal-Sik, Kim, Won-Ho, Ko, Jae-Ki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Cardiology 01.03.2016; 대한심장학회
• Subjects: Original; 내과학; Blood viscosity; Rosuvastatin; Acute coronary syndrome; Rheology
• ISSN: 1738-5520; 1738-5555
• DOI: 10.4070/kcj.2016.46.2.147

Wall shear stress contributes to atherosclerosis progression and plaque rupture. There are limited studies for statin as a major contributing factor on whole blood viscosity (WBV) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study investigates the effect of statin on WBV in ACS patients. We prospectively enrolled 189 consecutive patients (mean age, 61.3±10.9 years; 132 males; ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, n=52; non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, n=84; unstable angina n=53). Patients were divided into two groups (group I: previous use of statins for at least 3 months, n=51; group II: statin-naïve patients, n=138). Blood viscosities at shear rates of 1 s-1 (diastolic blood viscosity; DBV) and 300 s-1 (systolic blood viscosity; SBV) were measured at baseline and one month after statin treatment. Rosuvastatin was administered to patients after enrollment (mean daily dose, 16.2±4.9 mg). Baseline WBV was significantly higher in group II ([SBV: group I vs group II, 40.8±5.9 mP vs. 44.2±7.4 mP, p=0.003], [DBV: 262.2±67.8 mP vs. 296.9±76.0 mP, p=0.002]). WBV in group II was significantly lower one month after statin treatment ([SBV: 42.0±4.7 mP, p=0.012, DBV: 281.4±52.6 mP, p=0.044]). However, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was not associated with WBV in both baseline (SBV: R2=0.074, p=0.326; DBV: R2=0.073, p=0.337) and after one month follow up (SBV: R2=0.104, p=0.265; DBV: R2=0.112, p=0.232). Previous statin medication is an important determinant in lowering WBV in patients with ACS. However, one month of rosuvastatin decreased WBV in statin-naïve ACS patients.