Effects of the Addition of Eicosapentaenoic Acid to Strong Statin Therapy on Inflammatory Cytokines and Coronary Plaque Components Assessed by Integrated Backscatter Intravascular Ultrasound.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on coronary artery disease have been previously reported; however, those of the addition of EPA to strong statins on coronary plaque components and local inflammatory cytokines are not known.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

A total of 95 patients who had been treated with strong statin for at least 6 months were randomized into 2 groups: an EPA group (additional treatment with EPA at 1,800 mg/day, n=48) or a control group (no additional treatment, n=47), for 6 months. The tissue characteristics of target coronary plaque in each patient were analyzed using IB-IVUS before and after treatment. We also measured plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines sampled in the coronary sinus (CS) and peripheral vein.A significant reduction in lipid volume (18.5 ± 1.3 to 15.0 ± 1.5 mm(3), P=0.007) and a significant increase in fibrous volume (22.9 ± 0.8 to 25.6 ± 1.1 mm(3), P=0.01) were observed in IB-IVUS image analyses in the EPA group, but no significant changes in the plaque components in the control group. CS levels of pentraxin 3 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were lower after than before treatment with EPA (3.3 ± 2.1 to 2.6 ± 1.2 ng/ml, 120.4 ± 26.2 to 110.2 ± 26.8 pg/ml, P=0.015 and P=0.008, respectively); however, there were no significant changes in those inflammatory cytokines between pre- and post-treatment in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The addition of EPA was associated with reduced lipid volume in coronary plaques and decreased inflammatory cytokines.

• Authors: Toshiyuki Niki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Koji Yamaguchi, Yoshio Taketani, Hiroyasu Oeduka, Kenya Kusunose, Takayuki Ise, Takashi Iwase, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Masataka Sata
• Journal: Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society (Circ J) Vol. 80 Issue 2 Pg. 450-60 ( 2016) ISSN: 1347-4820 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 26667367 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Inflammation Mediators
• Lipids
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Coronary Artery Disease (blood, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Inflammation Mediators (blood)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (blood, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Ultrasonography, Interventional