Effects of Atorvastatin on Myonecrosis

This study is designed as a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind analysis of atorvastatin 80 mg versus placebo administered on average 4 hours prior to percutaneous coronary intervention \[PCI\] (at least 2 hours) in patients presenting with unstable angina. Only patients with negative cardiac biomarkers, measured on 2 separate occasions a few hours apart will be eligible for inclusion. Furthermore, patients already on high-dose statin therapy; patients taking any statin within 24 hours prior to the PCI; and patients with contraindications to statins will be excluded from the study. The primary endpoint is a quantitative troponin level at 18-24 hours after PCI. At an enrollment of a total of 150 patients (75 per group), the study is powered to detect a 30% difference in troponin level. Secondary endpoints include elevation of creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB above the upper limit of normal, change in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from baseline and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) myocardial perfusion grade. All patients will be started on statin therapy the day after the procedure, as deemed appropriate by their treating physicians.