Influence of Meldonium on Blood Lipid Spectrum and Echocardiography Parameters in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and or Withoutconcomitant Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Introduction. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the main causes of high mortality, disability and reduced quality of life for patients in both Europe and Ukraine. Modern drug therapy of coronary heart disease in combination with arterial hypertension (AH) does not always achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect. The use of meldonium, which has antioxidant properties, has a positive effect on NO release and has a lipid-lowering effect is promising for patients with AH. The aim of the study. To evaluate the influence of meldonium on lipid metabolism and echocardiography parameters in combination therapy in patients with CHD with stable angina and concomitant AH. Materials and methods. We examined 66 patients with CHD, stable angina pectoris II-III functional class, 40 of them with concomitant AH stage II-III. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 40 and 26 patients, respectively. The first group included patients with CHD and concomitant AH, the second - without pre-existing hypertension. Each of the groups was further divided into 2 subgroups: 1) Patients who were prescribed meldonium at a dose of 750.0 mg/d for 6 months in addition to the basic therapy of the underlying disease (n = 20 for CHD + AH and n = 14 for CHD without hypertension). 2) Patients who continued basic antianginal, disaggregating, hypolipidemic therapy (n = 20 for CHD + AH and n = 12 for CHD without hypertension). Serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were assessed. Indicators of cardiac hemodynamics were determined by echocardiography with assessment of left ventricular end systolic and diastolic volumes and diameters (LVESV, LVEDV, LVESD, LVEDD respectively), the thickness of the interventricular septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle (IVST, LVPWT respectively), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), LV myocardial mass (LVM) and LV myocardial mass index (LVMI). Results. The use of meldonium for 6 months in patients with CHD and concomitant AH led to a decrease in the concentration of total cholesterol from 5.07 to 4.34 mmol/l and LDL from 2.07 to 1.70 mmol/l. In the group of patients without concomitant hypertension there was a decrease in the concentration of total cholesterol from 4.80 to 3.93 mmol/l, LDL from 1.62 to 1.18 mmol/l and an increase in HDL from 1.18 to 1.37 mmol/l. At 6-month administration of meldonium as a part of combination therapy of patients with CHD with concomitant AH, there is a decrease in LVM from 216.90 g to 181.50 g and LVMI from 109.10 g/m2 up to 91.20 g/m2. In patients without concomitant hypertension, a decrease in LVM from 232,20 g to 183.90 g and LVMI from 121.50 g/m2 to 96.40 g/m2 was observed. Conclusions. Our study showed that meldonium has a positive effect on lipid metabolism and echocardiography. In the group of patients with coronary heart disease and concomitant hypertension on the background of additional use of meldonium for six months, we registered a decrease in TC, LDL and AI. LVPWT, PAP, LVM and LVMI also significantly decreased. In the group of patients with coronary heart disease without concomitant hypertension, we registered a decrease in TC, LDL, AI and an increase in HDL. LVM and LVMI also decreased significantly. Therefore, we consider it appropriate to use meldonium in the complex treatment of patients with coronary heart disease with stable angina and concomitant hypertension. Keywords: coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, meldonium, echocardiography, blood lipid spectrum.