Rosuvastatin for Reduction of Myocardial Damage during Coronary Angioplasty - the Remedy Trial.

Abstract

Periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) is a frequent complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Statins might reduce its incidence. The aims of the present studyare to assess whether such benefit is a class-effect or whether differences exist between various lipid-lowering strategies and whether cardioprotectionis exerted by increasing circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The REMEDY study will enroll a total of 1080 patients submitted to elective PCI. Eligible patients will be randomized into 4 groups: 1) placebo; 2) atorvastatin (80mg+40mg before PCI); 3) rosuvastatin (40mg twice before PCI); and 4) rosuvastatin (5mg) and ezetimibe (10mg) twice before PCI. Peri-procedural MI is defined as an elevation of markers of cardiac injury (either CK-MB or troponin I or T) values >5x the upper reference limit estimated at the 99th percentile of the normal distribution, or a rise >20% in case of baseline values already elevated. EPCs will be assessed before, at 24h and - in a subset of diabetic patients - at 3months after PCI (EPC-substudies). The primary endpoint of the main REMEDY study is the rate of peri-procedural MI in each of the 4 treatment arms. Secondary endpoints are the combined occurrence of 1-month major adverse events (MACE, including death, MI, or the need for unplanned revascularization); and any post-procedural increase in serum creatinine. Endpoints of the EPC-substudies are the impact of tested regimens on 1) early (24-h) and 3-month EPC levels and functional activity; 2) stent strut re-endothelialization and neointimal hyperplasia; 3) 1-year MACE. REMEDY will add important information on the cardioprotective effects of statins after PCI.