Comparison of Arterial Remodeling and Changes in Plaque Composition Between Patients With Progression Versus Regression of Coronary Atherosclerosis During Statin Therapy (from the TRUTH Study)

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 2012-05, Vol.109 (9), p.1247-1253
• Main Authors: Nozue, Tsuyoshi, MD, Yamamoto, Shingo, MD, Tohyama, Shinichi, MD, Fukui, Kazuki, MD, Umezawa, Shigeo, MD, Onishi, Yuko, MD, Kunishima, Tomoyuki, MD, Sato, Akira, MD, Nozato, Toshihiro, MD, Miyake, Shogo, MD, Takeyama, Youichi, MD, Morino, Yoshihiro, MD, Yamauchi, Takao, MD, Muramatsu, Toshiya, MD, Hibi, Kiyoshi, MD, Terashima, Mitsuyasu, MD, Michishita, Ichiro, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Atherosclerosis; Cardiology; Cardiovascular; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - drug therapy; Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessels - drug effects; Coronary Vessels - physiopathology; Disease Progression; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Histology; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Male; Middle Aged; Patients; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diagnosis; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - drug therapy; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - physiopathology; Prospective Studies; Statins; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Vascular Resistance - drug effects; Vascular Resistance - physiology
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.12.016

Statin therapy produces regression of coronary artery plaques and reduces the incidence of coronary artery disease. However, not all patients show regression of coronary atherosclerosis after statin therapy. The purpose of the present study was to identify differences in clinical characteristics, serum lipid profiles, arterial remodeling, and plaque composition between patients with progression and those with regression of coronary atherosclerosis during statin therapy. The effects of 8-month statin therapy on coronary atherosclerosis were evaluated in the Treatment With Statin on Atheroma Regression Evaluated by Intravascular Ultrasound With Virtual Histology (TRUTH) study using intravascular ultrasound–virtual histology. One hundred nineteen patients were divided into 2 groups according to atheroma volume increase (progressors) or decrease (regressors) during an 8-month follow-up period. Fifty-one patients (43%) were categorized as progressors and the remaining 68 (57%) as regressors. External elastic membrane volume increased, although not significantly (0.8%, p = 0.34), and luminal volume decreased significantly (−5.3%, p = 0.0003) in progressors, while external elastic membrane volume decreased significantly (−3.2%, p