Effect of atorvastatin (80 mg/day) versus pravastatin (40 mg/day) on arterial remodeling at coronary branch points (from the REVERSAL study)

Am J Cardiol. 2005 Dec 15;96(12):1636-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.07.085. Epub 2005 Oct 28.

Abstract

The effect of moderate and intensive lipid lowering on plaque progression and arterial remodeling at coronary branch points was investigated. Intensive (+1 +/- 19.6%), but not moderate (+4.1 +/- 15.1%), lipid lowering prevented an increase in the percent [corrected] plaque area at the branch points. The 2 strategies were associated with increased areas of the lumen (+7.6% to 9.4%) and external elastic membrane (+9.6% to 10.8%). In contrast, there was no significant change in plaque, lumen, and/or external elastic membrane areas at the nonbranch point site. These results suggest that intensive lipid lowering can have a dramatic effect on atheroma-prone regions and that remodeling in response to changes in plaque is a heterogenous process.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Atorvastatin
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy*
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Vessels / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heptanoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Heptanoic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pravastatin / administration & dosage
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrroles / administration & dosage
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Pyrroles
  • Atorvastatin
  • Pravastatin