title: Predictors of carotid atherosclerotic plaque progression as measured by noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: The purpose of this in vivo MRI study was to quantify changes in atherosclerotic plaque morphology prospectively and to identify factors that may alter the rate of progression in plaque burden. Sixty-eight asymptomatic subjects with >or=50% stenosis, underwent serial carotid MRI examinations over an 18-month period. Clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis, and medications were documented prospectively. The wall and total vessel areas, matched across time-points, were measured from cross-sectional images. The normalized wall index (NWI=wall area/total vessel area), as a marker of disease severity, was documented at baseline and at 18 months. Multiple regression analysis was used to correlate risk factors and morphological features of the plaque with the rate of progression/regression. On average, the wall area increased by 2.2% per year (P=0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that statin therapy (P=0.01) and a normalized wall index >0.64 (P=0.001) were associated with a significantly reduced rate of progression in mean wall area. All other documented risk factors were not significantly associated with changes in wall area. Findings from this study suggest that increased normalized wall index and the use of statin therapy are associated with reduced rates of plaque progression amongst individuals with advanced, asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saam
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Baocheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Norihide
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.forename: Hunter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Underhill
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Nam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Nayak L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Polissar
authors.forename: Blazej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neradilek
authors.forename: Gail P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Jarvik
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.forename: Gwenn A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Garden
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Maravilla
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors