title: Effect of low-and high-dose atorvastatin on carotid artery distensibility using carotid magnetic resonance imaging -a post-hoc sub group analysis of ATHEROMA (Atorvastatin Therapy: Effects On Reduction Of Macrophage Activity) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of low-(10 mg) or high-(80 mg) dose atorvastatin on carotid artery distensibility in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease using carotid magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients underwent initial 2-dimensional ECG gated-phase contrast carotid MR imaging and off-line applanation tonometry for distensibility assessment before randomisation to receive low- or high-dose statins and this was repeated at 12 weeks. Phase and magnitude images from the 2-D phase contrast acquisitions were used for quantification of distensibility and compliance coefficients and were compared between the low- and high-dose statin groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were comparable with regards to their demographics, co-morbidities and baseline cholesterol levels. After 12 weeks of high-dose statin administration, a significant decrease in LDL (p=0.003) and CRP (p=0.03) was observed. At 12 weeks, the distensibility coefficient of the common and internal carotid artery was found to be significantly higher (with respect to baseline) in the high-dose group (p=0.004 and p=0.007, respectively). The compliance coefficient was likewise found to be raised in the high-dose group when compared with the low-dose group [common carotid (p=0.002), internal carotid (p=0.009)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose atorvastatin tends to reduce carotid arterial stiffness, as suggested by increased distensibility and compliance coefficients; however, these results need validation through large-scale trials to fully establish their possible use in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK. sadat.umar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sadat
authors.forename: Simon P S
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: Ammara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Taviani
authors.forename: Tjun Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gillard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin