title: Plaque-stabilizing effect of atorvastatin is stronger for plaques evaluated as more unstable by angioscopy and intravenous ultrasound.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of atorvastatin treatment on high-grade yellow coronary plaques (grade ≥ 2, group H) vs. low-grade yellow plaques (grade ≤ 1, group L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary heart disease were treated with atorvastatin (10-20mg/day) for 80 weeks and were divided into 2 groups by baseline plaque color grade. The angioscopic plaque grade and the vessel, plaque, and luminal volumes were measured by intravascular ultrasound at baseline and in weeks 28 and 80. The plaque color grade decreased significantly from baseline to weeks 28 and 80 in group H (2.27 ± 0.48, 1.47 ± 0.75, and 1.55 ± 0.86, respectively), but not significantly in group L (0.90 ± 0.31, 0.83 ± 0.61, and 0.89 ± 0.56, respectively). The plaque volume of group HP was greater than that of group LP (respectively 158.0 ± 45.8 vs. 107.5 ± 21.9 mm(3) at baseline, 144.5 ± 41.1 vs. 97.5 ± 24.8mm(3) in week 28, and 128.8 ± 31.5 vs. 87.9 ± 31.5mm(3) in week 80 (P < 0.001 by ANCOVA between groups).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plaque-stabilizing effect of atorvastatin was stronger for more vulnerable plaques with a higher color grade, although regression of plaque during atorvastatin therapy was noted irrespective of plaque vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ahirayam@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Tadateru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Honye
authors.forename: Sei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nanto
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takazawa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodama
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017546:Angioscopy; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin