Pravastatin beneficial for MI survivors without high cholesterol levels

Abstract

Administration of the cholesterol-lowering drug pravastatin to patients who have had a myocardial infarction (MI) but who do not have high cholesterol levels can significantly reduce the risk of a recurrent MI or death from heart disease, according to preliminary results from the major study known as the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) Trial. These results were presented at the 45th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (Orlando, Florida, US, March 1996). The findings extend to this ‘enormous population’ the results of previous studies, which have demonstrated that lowering cholesterol levels significantly reduces the risks of MI and death from heart disease in patients with elevated cholesterol levels.