Effect of lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin on atherosclerotic aortic plaques: a 2-year follow-up by noninvasive MRI.
Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil
; 16(2): 222-8, 2009 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19242355
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Using MRI, we reported plaque regression in thoracic aorta and retardation of plaque progression in abdominal aorta by 1-year atorvastatin. However, association between serial plaque changes and LDL-cholesterol levels was not fully elucidated.DESIGN:
A prospective, randomized, open-label trial.METHODS:
We investigated the long-term effect of 20 versus 5-mg atorvastatin on thoracic and abdominal plaques and the association between plaque progression and on-treatment LDL-cholesterol levels in 36 hypercholesterolemic patients. MRI was performed at baseline and 1 and 2 years of treatment. Vessel wall area change was evaluated.RESULTS:
The 20-mg dose markedly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels (-47%) versus 5-mg (-35%) dose. After 2 years of treatment, regression of thoracic plaques was found in the 20-mg group (-15% vessel wall area reduction), but not in the 5-mg group (+7%). Although the 20-mg dose induced plaque regression (-14%) from baseline to 1 year, no further regression was seen from 1 to 2 years of treatment (-1%). Regarding abdominal plaques, progression was found in the 5-mg group (+10%), but not in the 20-mg group (+2%). Plaque progression in the 5-mg group was found from baseline to 1 year (+8%), but not from 1 to 2 years (+2%). The degree of thoracic plaque regression correlated with LDL-cholesterol reduction (r = 0.61), whereas thoracic plaque change from 1 to 2 years correlated with on-treatment LDL-cholesterol levels (r = 0.64).CONCLUSION:
Twenty milligrams of atorvastatin regressed thoracic plaques. However, maintaining low LDL-cholesterol levels was needed to prevent plaque progression. In abdominal aorta, only retardation of plaque progression was found after 2 years of 20-mg treatment.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aorta, Abdominal
/
Aorta, Thoracic
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Aortic Diseases
/
Pyrroles
/
Aortography
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Magnetic Resonance Angiography
/
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
/
Atherosclerosis
/
Heptanoic Acids
/
Hypercholesterolemia
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil
Journal subject:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
CARDIOLOGIA
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japan