Extensively used lipid-lowering statins have also non-lipid-lowering, pleiotropic effects. Previous studies have demonstrated that a pre-procedural single dose of atorvastatin is associated with reduced peri-procedural myocardial injury.

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effect of a single high loading dose (40 mg) of rosuvastatin on peri-procedural myocardial injury.

Two hundred ninety nine statin-naive patients with stable angina and de novo lesions eligible for PCI were randomized to a rosuvastatin-treatment (n = 153) and to a no-treatment (n = 146) group. A 40 mg loading dose of rosuvastatin was administrated 24 h before the PCI. CK-MB and cTnI levels were measured before and 12 h after the procedure.

Baseline characteristics were fairly similar between the two arms. The incidence of a CK-MB and cTnI elevation >3× ULN in the rosuvastatin group was significantly lower compared to the control group (0.7% vs. 11.0%, p < 0.001 and 10.5% vs. 39.0%, p < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, the incidence of any CK-MB and cTnI elevation > ULN in the rosuvastatin group was significantly lower compared to the control group (10.5% vs. 34.2%, p < 0.001 and 20.9% vs. 61.6%, p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, CK-MB and cTnI values 12 h after the PCI were significantly lower in the rosuvastatin group compared to the control group (20.13 ± 7.24 U/L vs. 27.02 ± 18.64 U/L, p < 0.001 and 0.14 ± 0.34 ng/ml vs. 0.35 ± 0.40 ng/ml, p < 0.001, respectively).

A single high loading dose of rosuvastatin reduces the incidence of peri-procedural myocardial necrosis and infarction effectively.