[Rosuvastatin in Coronary Bypass Surgery: Whether Only Secondary Prevention?]

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The increasing number of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with a need for active introduction of methods improving immediate and long-term results of these interventions. Results of a number of studies conducted during recent years allow to consider high dose statin therapy one of such methods. In this article we present results of rosuvastatin administration to patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to surgery.

METHODS: Rosuvastatin (40 mg/day) was given for 4 weeks before CABG to patients who had previously taken simvastatin (20 mg/day).

RESULTS: This regimen was assocaed with reduction of desquamation of endothelium of the intima, reduction of the number of smooth muscle cells in the media, as well as the proliferation index according to the immunohistochemical analysis in sections of the great saphenous vein selected for the coronary anastomosis.

CONCLUSION: It is assumed that the antiproliferative effects of high-dose rosuvastatin therapy may have a positive impact in relation to the viability of a remote arterio-venous grafts.