Statin loading in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndromes

摘要: Intensive statin treatment has proved beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, this benefit may apply only to those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Loading, preloading or reloading with high dose (s) of a statin may decrease major adverse cardiac events, revascularization of both target and non-target vessels as well as myocardial necrosis after PCI. It seems that different actions of statins are responsible for their protective role in target vessel and non-target vessel revascularization procedures. This editorial discusses the results of statin loading trials and comments on the possible mechanisms involved.