Effects of Lipid-Lowering by Simvastatin on Human Atherosclerotic Lesions
- 17 July 2001
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Circulation
- Vol. 104 (3), 249-252
- https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.104.3.249
Abstract
Background This study was designed to investigate the effects of lipid-lowering by simvastatin on human atherosclerotic lesions. Methods and Results Eighteen asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic patients with documented aortic and/or carotid atherosclerotic plaques were selected for the study. A total of 35 aortic and 25 carotid artery plaques were detected. Serial black-blood MRI of the aorta and carotid artery of the patients was performed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after lipid-lowering therapy with simvastatin. The effects of the treatment on atherosclerotic lesions were measured as changes in lumen area, vessel wall thickness, and vessel wall area, a surrogate of atherosclerotic burden. Simvastatin induced a significant (PPConclusions This in vivo human study demonstrates that effective and maintained lipid-lowering therapy by simvastatin is associated with a significant regression of atherosclerotic lesions. Our observation suggests that statins induce vascular remodeling, as manifested by reduced atherosclerotic burden without changes in the lumen.Keywords
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