Effect of High-Dose Statin Loading on Biomarkers Related to Inflammation and Renal Injury in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: High-dose statin loading is known to reduce periprocedural myocardial infarction and contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the clinical role of high-dose statin loading in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective, single-center, randomized, controlled, open-label pilot study, patients hospitalized with AHF were randomly assigned to receive oral high-dose atorvastatin loading (80 mg for 3 days, followed by 10 mg/day until discharge) or no statin therapy, on top of optimal HF treatment. The primary outcome measures were changes to the level of biomarkers related to inflammation and renal injury from admission to hospital day 4. No significant changes in the levels of NT-proBNP (-2,627±4,956 vs. -2,981±6,951 pg/ml, P=0.845), hsCRP (-6.1±16.4 vs. -2.1±16.2 mg/L, P=0.105), cystatin C (0.002±0.185 vs. 0.009±0.216 mg/L, P=0.904), ACR (-886.3±1,984.9 vs. -165.6±825.2 mg/day, P=0.124) were observed in either group. In-hospital mortality (4.3% vs. 3.8%, P>0.999) and all-cause mortality at 90 days (4.3% vs. 3.8%, P>0.999) were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study showed that oral high-dose atorvastatin loading may be used safely in patients with AHF, but is not effective in reducing the levels of circulating biomarkers related to inflammation and renal injury during hospitalization.