| Intensive Statin Therapy Reverses Plaque Build-up in Arteries -
15-03-2006, 05:55 PM
Intensive cholesterol lowering with a statin drug can regress, or partially reverse, the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, according to a recent international study.
In the past, researchers have indicated intensive statin therapy could prevent the progression of coronary atherosclerosis, or arterial plaque build-up, but not actually reduce disease burden. Now, however, the intense statin therapy used in the study shows a significant regression of atherosclerosis as measured by an intravascular ultrasound probe inserted into the coronary arteries to measure plaque.
Five hundred and seven patients were included in the study and received baseline intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) exams along with 40 milligrams daily of rosuvastatin (Crestor). Study results revealed the largest reduction in cholesterol ever observed in a major statin outcome trial. The arterial plaque overall was reduced by 6.8 percent to 9.1 percent for the various measures of disease burden.
"Previous similar studies with statins have shown slowing of coronary disease, but not regression. This regimen significantly lowered bad cholesterol, and surprisingly, markedly increased good cholesterol levels," says lead study author Steven Nissen, M.D., F.A.C.C., of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "Very low LDL levels (below current guidelines), when accompanied by raised HDL, can regress, or partially reverse, the plaque buildup in the coronary arteries."
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