Impact of angiotensin II receptor blockers on the progression and regression of coronary atherosclerosis: an intravascular ultrasound study.
BACKGROUND
Although angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) have been found to reduce the coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden in animal models, it is unknown whether ARB have a similar effect on human coronary arteries.


RESULTS
Serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies of the left main (LM) coronary artery were performed in 64 patients at baseline and after 7-month follow-up. All patients were divided into 2 groups (ARB group: 23 patients; non-ARB group: 41 patients). Three-dimensional volumetric analysis was done throughout the LM coronary artery, and the volume index (VI; volume/length) was calculated for the vessel (VVI), lumen (LVI), and plaque (PVI). No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in baseline clinical characteristics, including age, gender, blood pressure levels, serum cholesterol levels, the presence of diabetes and smoking status. At baseline VVI, LVI and PVI were similar between the groups. In the non-ARB group, VVI, LVI, and PVI did not change between baseline and follow-up. In the ARB group, PVI significantly decreased during follow-up (9.9 +/-3.1 mm2 vs 9.1+/-2.7 mm2, p<0.01), whereas VVI and LVI were unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary IVUS study suggests that ARB could cause regression of coronary atherosclerosis in humans.
Waseda
Katsuhisa
K
Department of Cardiology, Aichi Medical University, Japan.
Ozaki
Yukio
Y
Takashima
Hiroaki
H
Ako
Junya
J
Yasukawa
Tatsuya
T
Ismail
Tevfik F
TF
Hishida
Hitoshi
H
Ito
Takayuki
T
D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers