Rosuvastatin Reduces Blood Viscosity in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Wall shear stress contributes to atherosclerosis progression and plaque rupture. There are limited studies for statin as a major contributing factor on whole blood viscosity (WBV) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study investigates the effect of statin on WBV in ACS patients. Subjects and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 189 consecutive patients (mean age, $61.3{\pm}10.9years$; 132 males; ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, n=52; non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, n=84; unstable angina n=53). Patients were divided into two groups (group I: previous use of statins for at least 3 months, n=51; group II: statin-naïve patients, n=138). Blood viscosities at shear rates of 1 s-1 (diastolic blood viscosity; DBV) and 300 s-1 (systolic blood viscosity; SBV) were measured at baseline and one month after statin treatment. Rosuvastatin was administered to patients after enrollment (mean daily dose, $16.2{\pm}4.9mg$). Results: Baseline WBV was significantly higher in group II ([SBV: group I vs group II, $40.8{\pm}5.9mP$ vs. $44.2{\pm}7.4mP$, p=0.003], [DBV: $262.2{\pm}67.8mP$ vs. $296.9{\pm}76.0mP$, p=0.002]). WBV in group II was significantly lower one month after statin treatment ([SBV: $42.0{\pm}4.7mP$, p=0.012, DBV: $281.4{\pm}52.6mP$, p=0.044]). However, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was not associated with WBV in both baseline (SBV: $R_2=0.074$, p=0.326; DBV: $R_2=0.073$, p=0.337) and after one month follow up (SBV: $R_2=0.104$, p=0.265; DBV: $R_2=0.112$, p=0.232). Conclusion: Previous statin medication is an important determinant in lowering WBV in patients with ACS. However, one month of rosuvastatin decreased WBV in statin-naïve ACS patients.