The effect of statin therapy on the progression of carotid artery stenosis in relation to stenosis severity.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of early statin treatment on progression of arteriosclerosis in internal carotid arteries (ICA); to compare the progression of arteriosclerosis in ICA of patients treated with a statin to the progression seen in drug-naïve patients.


METHODS
We performed repetitive Doppler scans of 363 carotid arteries with ICA stenosis > or =40% in 254 patients over time. Information on statin therapy and other risk factors for stroke were correlated with the annual change in degree of ICA stenosis.


RESULTS
In statin-treated patients, 19% of ICA stenosis showed a progression while 74% showed a regression of stenosis. In statin-naïve patients, 63% of stenotic arteries showed a progression, while a reduction could be observed in 28%. Decrease of ICA stenosis was most accentuated in patients with a mild stenosis and was independent of serum cholesterol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with statins already in early stages of ICA stenosis might delay the progression and even reverse the degree of stenosis.
Hegland
O
O
Department of Neurology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
Kurz
M W
MW
Munk
P S
PS
Larsen
J P
JP
D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors