title: Effect of fluvastatin on progression of coronary atherosclerotic plaque evaluated by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with statins on the progression of coronary atherosclerotic plaques of a nonculprit vessel by serial volumetric virtual histology (VH) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Recent clinical trials have demonstrated a reduction of atherosclerotic plaque, yet whether statin therapy affects the change in components of plaque remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a nonrandomized and nonblinded design. Eighty patients with stable angina pectoris were divided into either the fluvastatin group (n = 40) or the control group (n = 40) according to their total or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level. The volume of each plaque component (dense calcium, fibrous tissue, fibro-fatty, or necrotic core) was evaluated at baseline and at 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LDL cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in the fluvastatin group were significantly decreased at time of follow-up. In VH IVUS findings, fibro-fatty volume was significantly decreased (baseline 80.1 +/- 57.9 mm(3) vs. follow-up 32.5 +/- 27.7 mm(3), p < 0.0001) and fibrous tissue volume was increased (baseline 146.5 +/- 85.6 mm(3) vs. follow-up 163.3 +/- 94.5 mm(3), p < 0.0001) in the fluvastatin group. In the control group, the volumes of all plaque components without fibrous tissue were significantly increased. Change in fibro-fatty volume has a significant correlation with a change in LDL cholesterol level (R = 0.703, p < 0.0001) and change in hsCRP level (R = 0.357, p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One-year lipid-lowering therapy by fluvastatin showed significant regression of plaque volume and alterations in atherosclerotic plaque composition with a significant reduction of fibro-fatty volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Toyohashi Heart Center, Toyohashi, Japan. nasu@heartcenter.or.jp
authors.forename: Kenya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nasu
authors.forename: Etsuo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsuchikane
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Mitsuyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: Tadateru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Honye
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein