title: Early decrease in carotid plaque lipid content as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging during treatment of rosuvastatin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statin therapy has shown to deplete atherosclerotic plaque lipid content and induce plaque regression. However, how early the plaque lipid depletion can occur with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering in humans in vivo has not been fully described.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 43 lipid treatment naïve subjects with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis and LDL-C ≥ 100 and ≤ 250 mg/dl. Rosuvastatin 5-20 mg/day was used to lower LDL-C levels to < 80 mg/dl. Lipid profile and carotid MRI scans were obtained at baseline, 3, 12, and 24 months. Carotid plaque lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) and plaque burden were measured and compared between baseline and during treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 32 subjects who completed the study, at 3 months, an average dose of rosuvastatin of 11 mg/day lowered LDL-C levels by 47% (125.2 ± 24.4 mg/dl vs. 66.7 ± 17.3 mg/dl, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in total wall volume, percent wall volume or lumen volume. However, LRNC volume was significantly decreased by 7.9 mm3, a reduction of 7.3% (111.5 ± 104.2 mm3 vs. 103.6 ± 95.8 mm3, p = 0.044). Similarly, % LRNC was also significantly decreased from 18.9 ± 11.9% to 17.9 ± 11.5% (p = 0.02) at 3 months. Both LRNC volume and % LRNC continued to decrease moderately at 12 and 24 months, although this trend was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among a small number of lipid treatment naïve subjects, rosuvastatin therapy may induce a rapid and lasting decrease in carotid plaque lipid content as assessed by MRI.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.Gov numbers NCT00885872.
authors.forename: Ruixue
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xue-Qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qing-Jun
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dan-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-Xiu
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No, 28, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. cjr.malin@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium