title: Meta-analysis of the studies assessing temporal changes in coronary plaque volume using intravascular ultrasound.
abstract: To assess the temporal effect of statin therapy on coronary atherosclerotic plaque volume measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), we searched PubMed for eligible studies published between 1990 and January 2006. Inclusion criteria for retrieved studies were (1) IVUS volume analysis at baseline and follow-up and (2) statin therapy in > or =1 group of patients. All data of interest were abstracted in prespecified structured collection forms. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 4.2. Random-effect weighted mean difference (WMD) was used as summary statistics for comparison of continuous variables. Nine studies of 985 patients (with 11 statin treatment arms) were selected. After a mean follow-up of 9.8 +/- 4.9 months, we found a significant decrease in coronary plaque volume (WMD -5.77 mm(3), 95% confidence interval -10.36 to -1.17, p = 0.01), with no significant heterogeneity across studies (p = 0.47). Prespecified subgroup analyses showed similar trends. Studies in which the achieved low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was <100 mg/dl showed a trend for plaque regression (WMD -7.88 mm(3), 95% confidence interval -16.31 to 0.55, p = 0.07), whereas studies in which the achieved level of LDL cholesterol was > or =100 mg/dl, the trend was less evident (WMD -4.22 mm(3), 95% confidence interval -10.27 to 1.82, p = 0.17). Plaque volume remained essentially unchanged in patients not treated with statins (WMD 0.13 mm(3), 95% confidence interval -4.42 to 4.68, p = 0.96). In conclusion, statin therapy, particularly when achieving the target LDL level, appears to promote a significant regression of coronary plaque volume as measured by IVUS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. grodriguezgranillo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gastón A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Granillo
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agostoni
authors.forename: Héctor M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Garcia
authors.forename: Giuseppe G L
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Biondi-Zoccai
authors.forename: Eugène
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Jaegere
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bruining
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Feyter
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
mesh_terms: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors