The ASTEROID trial: coronary plaque regression with high-dose statin therapy.
A Study To Evaluate the effect of Rosuvastatin On Intravascular ultrasound-Derived coronary atheroma burden (ASTEROID) investigated the impact of high-dose rosuvastatin therapy on the rate of atheroma progression in patients with coronary artery disease. Serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed in 349 patients at baseline and following 24 months of therapy with rosuvastatin 40 mg/day. Rosuvastatin therapy lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to 60.8 mg/dl and raised high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 14.7%. This was associated with a significant reduction in all IVUS measures of atheroma burden. These results suggest that intensive modification of lipid levels with high-dose statin therapy can promote atheroma regression. Further studies will be required to determine whether this benefit is associated with a reduction in clinical events.
The Cleveland Clinic, Desk F-15, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. chhatra@ccf.org
Adnan K
AK
Chhatriwalla
Stephen J
SJ
Nicholls
Steven E
SE
Nissen