AUTHOR=Mensink F. B. , Los J. , Ten Cate T. J. F. , Oemrawsingh R. M. , Brouwer M. A. , El Messaoudi S. , van Royen N. , Cornel J. H. , Riksen N. P. , van Geuns R. J. M. TITLE=Pharmaco-invasive therapy: Early implementation of statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors after acute coronary syndrome JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.1061346 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.1061346 ISSN=2297-055X ABSTRACT=
Elevated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) plays a major role in atheroma formation and inflammation. Medical therapy to lower elevated LDL-C is the cornerstone for reducing the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Statin therapy, and more recently, other drugs such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, have proven efficacy in long-term lowering of LDL-C and therefore diminish cardiovascular risk. During an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a systemic inflammatory response can destabilize other non-culprit atherosclerotic plaques. Patients with these vulnerable plaques are at high risk of experiencing recurrent cardiovascular events in the first few years post-ACS. Initiating intensive LDL-C lowering therapy in these patients with statins or PCSK9 inhibitors can be beneficial