Coronary angiographic changes with lovastatin therapy. The Monitored Atherosclerosis Regression Study (MARS).
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of lipid-lowering therapy with lovastatin on coronary angiographic findings in patients with coronary artery disease and to compare the findings with those of two lipid-lowering angiographic trials using similar end points.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter coronary angiographic trial.


METHODS
Community- and university-based cardiac catheterization laboratories.


METHODS
A total of 270 patients, 37 to 67 years old, with total cholesterol ranging from 4.92 to 7.64 mmol/L (190 to 295 mg/dL) and angiographically defined coronary artery disease.


METHODS
A cholesterol-lowering diet and either lovastatin, 80 mg/day, or placebo.


RESULTS
Per-patient change in percent diameter stenosis as determined by quantitative coronary angiography (primary end point). Global change score, based on the consensus of blinded expert readers regarding angiographic change (secondary endpoint).


RESULTS
Lovastatin lowered total cholesterol level by 32%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 38%, and the apolipoprotein B by 26% and raised the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 8.5%  (P < 0.001). Average percent diameter stenosis increased 2.2% in placebo recipients and 1.6% in lovastatin recipients (P > 0.20). For lesions 50% or greater, average percent diameter stenosis increased 0.9% in placebo recipients and decreased 4.1% in lovastatin recipients (P = 0.005). The mean global change score was +0.9 (indicating progression) in the placebo group and +0.4 in the lovastatin group (P = 0.002); 13 placebo recipients and 28 lovastatin recipients had global change scores indicating regression (P < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with lovastatin plus diet slows the rate of progression and increases the frequency of regression in coronary artery lesions (by global change score), especially in more severe lesions (by quantitative angiography). This is the third lipid-lowering trial to show a benefit using the global change score, an end point predictive of clinical coronary events. Differences between two of these trials, using quantitative coronary angiographic end points, may have theoretical bearing on the mechanisms by which lipid-lowering therapy operates at the level of the arterial wall.
Blankenhorn
D H
DH
University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Azen
S P
SP
Kramsch
D M
DM
Mack
W J
WJ
Cashin-Hemphill
L
L
Hodis
H N
HN
DeBoer
L W
LW
Mahrer
P R
PR
Masteller
M J
MJ
Vailas
L I
LI
Alaupovic
P
P
Hirsch
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008055:Lipids; D008148:Lovastatin