title: Efficacy and safety of intensive statin therapy in Chinese patients with atherosclerotic intracranial arterial stenosis: a single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study with one-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to validate the efficacy of intensive statin therapy for patients with atherosclerotic intracranial arterial stenosis (AICAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we performed a single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group clinical trial. A total of 120 Chinese patients with AICAS were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups [low-dose atorvastatin therapy (LAT, 10mg/day), standard-dose atorvastatin therapy (SAT, 20mg/day), and intensive-dose atorvastatin therapy (IAT, 40mg/day) groups] in a 1:1:1 ratio. Evaluation variables, including changes in serum lipid profiles, degree of stenosis, and perfusion-related parameters derived from computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging from baseline to weeks 26 and 52, as well as the occurrence of cerebrovascular events during the study period, were used to compare the benefits of these three statin therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 52 weeks of treatment, improvement of serum lipid profiles, degree of stenosis, and perfusion-related parameters were all significantly better in the IAT group. In addition, the cumulative probability of cerebrovascular events at 52 weeks was significantly lower in the IAT group than in the LAT group, although there was no statistical difference between the IAT group and the SAT group. The proportion of patients experiencing any adverse event was similar among the three treatment groups. Adverse events caused by IAT were generally mild; no serious adverse events occurred throughout the entire period of study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, long-term use of IAT appears to be a safe and effective treatment at least for Chinese patients with AICAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China; Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peiyang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zuneng_lu@163.com.
authors.forename: Zuneng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Puqing
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guibin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shouan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002681:China; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Atherosclerotic intracranial arterial stenosis; Atorvastatin; Computed tomography angiography; Computed tomography perfusion; Intensive statin therapy