title: Effect of rosuvastatin on the echolucency of the common carotid intima-media in low-risk individuals: the METEOR trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The echolucency of the carotid intima-media is related to increased cardiovascular risk factor levels, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of statins on the echolucency of the common carotid intima-media in a low-risk population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Measuring Effects on Intima-Media Thickness: An Evaluation of Rosuvastatin study were used. Ultrasound images from the far walls of the left and right common carotid arteries were used for evaluation of the echolucency of the carotid intima-media, measured by grayscale median (GSM). Low GSM values reflect echolucent structures, whereas high values reflect echogenic structures. The primary end point was the difference in the annual rate of change in GSM between rosuvastatin and placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-year change in GSM did not significantly differ between rosuvastatin and placebo in the total population, with a mean difference in the rate of change in GSM of 1.13 (95% confidence interval, -1.00 to 3.25). The effect of rosuvastatin differed across quintiles of baseline GSM values (P for interaction = .01). In the lowest quintile (n = 175) (i.e., in those with the most echolucent intima-media), the difference in the rate of change in GSM between rosuvastatin and placebo was 4.18 (95% confidence interval, -0.23 to 8.58). Increases in GSM were significantly related to decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the lowest quintile (β = 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 1.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with rosuvastatin did not affect the echolucency of the arterial wall in all low-risk individuals. However, a potential effect of rosuvastatin on the echolucency of the common carotid intima-media is most likely to be found in individuals with echolucent arterial walls at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Heidelberglaan 100, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Sanne A E
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Hester M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: den Ruijter
authors.forename: Mike K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Diederick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Crouse
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Raichlen
authors.forename: Michiel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bots
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium