Relationship Between Inflammation and Benefits of Early High-Dose Rosuvastatin on Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Pathophysiological Link in the PRATO-ACS Study (Protective Effect of Rosuvastatin and Antiplatelet Therapy on Contrast-Induced Nephropathy and Myocardial Damage in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Coronary Intervention)

Abstract Objectives This study sought to investigate whether the beneficial impact of high-dose rosuvastatin against contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients varied in relation to baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Background High-dose rosuvastatin administered on admission has been shown to prevent CI-AKI and improve short- and mid-term clinical outcome in ACS patients. Methods All 504 statin-naive ACS patients enrolled in the PRATO-ACS (Protective Effect of Rosuvastatin and Antiplatelet Therapy on Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and Myocardial Damage in ACS Patients) study were stratified into baseline hs-CRP tertiles:  Results Patients with higher baseline hs-CRP values presented a significantly higher incidence of CI-AKI (5.4%, 8.7%, and 18.3% in the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively; p = 0.0001). The beneficial effect of rosuvastatin was markedly significant in the third hs-CRP tertile (odds ratio: 0.20; 95% confidence interval: 0.07 to 0.54; p = 0.002). Statin-treated patients in the third tertile presented a significantly lower rate of adverse events at 30 days (7.2% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.043) with a trend toward better outcome at 6 months (6.02% vs. 13.04%, p = 0.12). Conclusions High-dose rosuvastatin administered on admission appears to exert more effective kidney protection in ACS subjects with higher baseline hs-CRP levels resulting in better short- and mid-term clinical outcome. (Protective Effect of Rosuvastatin and Antiplatelet Therapy on Contrast-Induced Nephropathy and Myocardial Damage in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Coronary Intervention [PRATO-ACS]; NCT01185938 )