title: Effects of Pitavastatin on Lipid-rich Carotid Plaques Studied Using High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effectiveness of pitavastatin in patients with atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with atherosclerosis with lipid-rich carotid plaques were included and allocated into low-dose (2 mg/d) and high-dose (4 mg/d) pitavastatin groups with 48 weeks of treatment. Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein (a), and the inflammation-related factors interleukin 6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and homocysteine were determined. High-resolution (3.0-T) magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate the lipid core area, plaque thickness, total vessel area, lumen area, wall area, and normalized wall index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment period, the blood serum values were improved in both groups, but the improvement was significantly better for total cholesterol (P < 0.009), HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein (a), and homocysteine (all P < 0.001) in the high-dose group. The high-resolution magnetic resonance images revealed great improvements in both groups, although significantly better for the lipid core area (P < 0.001), plaque thickness (P < 0.001), wall area (P < 0.05), normalized wall index (P < 0.001), and lumen area (P < 0.05) in the HD group. Further analyses revealed a close correlation between lipid-rich plaques and changes in blood lipid components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pitavastatin had significant lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects in patients with atherosclerosis. It also reduced the lipid components and plaques of lipid rich carotid plaques. The effect was obviously stronger in the high-dose than in the low-dose group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Qundi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Deanery, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: Yuanyong082316@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xuehong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008055:Lipids; D011804:Quinolines; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; C108475:pitavastatin
keywords: atherosclerosis; blood lipid; carotid plaques; high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging; pitavastatin