Impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors for non-treated coronary segments.
BACKGROUND
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statin) have been reported to decrease coronary artery events in several angiographic studies. However, the mechanism by which statin achieve this is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of statin on coronary plaque using serial intravascular ultrasound analysis.


RESULTS
In this study, 48 patients with 48 lesions were divided into the prescribed group (statin group, n = 22) or the non-prescribed group (control group, n = 26) after successful coronary artery stenting. IVUS images were obtained at consecutive 5 mm segments, 5 mm from the proximal stent edge, immediately after stenting and at 6 months follow up. External elastic membrane volume (EEMV), lumen volume (LV) and plaque volume (PV) were measured using Simpson's method. The control group revealed no significant serial change in EEMV, PV, and LV during 6 months. On the other hand, the statin group revealed significant reductions of PV (35.5 +/- 12.7 mm3 vs 30.9 +/- 15.6 mm3, p = 0.001), resulting in increase of LV (47.7 +/- 19.8 mm3 vs 52.5 +/- 22.2 mm3, p = 0.003) without EEMV change (82.8 +/- 21.8 mm3 vs 83.9 +/- 25.7 mm3, p = NS). Although percent EEMV and percent LV changes showed no differences between the two groups, a larger percent PV change was observed in the statin group compared to the control group (control; 5.8 +/- 20.3% vs statin; -20.4 +/- 21.8%, p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that statin administration for 6 months reduces coronary plaque without positive vessel remodeling.
Nishioka
Hiroki
H
Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. m1153231@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Shimada
Kenei
K
Kataoka
Toru
T
Hirose
Makoto
M
Asawa
Koichiro
K
Hasegawa
Takao
T
Yamashita
Hajime
H
Ehara
Shoichi
S
Kamimori
Kimio
K
Sakamoto
Tsunemori
T
Kobayashi
Yoshiki
Y
Yoshimura
Takayoshi
T
Yoshiyama
Minoru
M
Takeuchi
Kazuhide
K
Yoshikawa
Junichi
J
D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors