title: Effect of long-term intensive lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin on progression of carotid intima-media thickness--Justification for Atherosclerosis Regression Treatment (JART) extension study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, it was reported from the Justification for Atherosclerosis Regression Treatment (JART) Study that intensive therapy with rosuvastatin significantly slowed progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) compared with conventional therapy with pravastatin at 12 months. To assess the long-term efficacy of intensive therapy, the present extension study was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects in the intensive therapy group of the JART Study were asked to participate in the extension study and to continue rosuvastatin treatment. A total of 113 subjects were enrolled into the extension study and were included in the analysis. At 24 months, the mean daily dose of rosuvastatin (±SD) was 7.9±2.9 mg. Mean change in mean IMT was -0.005 mm (range, -0.024 to 0.015 mm) at 24 months (P=0.633, compared with baseline). Rosuvastatin lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean±SD) by 46.4±13.8% and elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean±SD) by 8.9±24.0% at 24 months compared with baseline. Gray scale median was measured in 25 subjects. It increased by 16.93±33.12 (mean±SD) % at 12 months and by 22.50±52.83% at 24 months from baseline (P=0.017, P=0.044, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-year treatment with rosuvastatin inhibited progression of carotid IMT. Rosuvastatin also improved the plaque composition, and this qualitative change occurred relatively early after starting therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, The Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka 530-8480, Japan. noharar@kitano-hp.or.jp
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nohara
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daida
authors.forename: Mitsumasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaku
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawamori
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurabayashi
authors.forename: Izuru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium