Background: Recent studies have shown statins have beneficial effects on the prognosis of cardiovascular disease by cholesterol-lowering and pleiotropic effects. However, little is known about the effects of rosuvastatin, a highly effective new statin, on inflammatory marker and plaque volume. We evaluated the effects of rosuvastatin on lipoprotein levels, inflammatory marker and plaque volume by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with mild to moderate coronary artery stenosis (CAD) irrespective of their cholesterol levels. Methods: We administered rosuvastatin 20 mg daily during 9 months to 14 patients (16 lesions). We measured lipoprotein levels, hsCRP. We analyzed plaque volume (atheroma volume(AV), percent change in total atheroma volume(TAV), absolute change in TAV, change in percent atheroma volume(PAV)) in entire stenotic lesion and in 10-mm vessel subsegment with greatest severity in baseline and at the end of rosuvastatin therapy. This study is an on-going, prospective, randomized study. Results: Up to the present, we performed IVUS follow-up in 6 patients (8 lesions). Rosuvastatin therapy significantly lowered total cholesterol levels relative to baseline measurements from 196.33±27.63 to 116.50±19.66 mg/dl (p=.028), LDL cholesterol level from 123.16±22.88 to 44.10±18.05 mg/dl. (p=0.028) Rosuvastatin therapy significantly reduced hsCRP levels from 5.58±6.68 to 1.18±0.95 mg/L. (p=0.028) Atheroma volume after rosuvastatin therapy was not progressed when compared with baseline measurements. AV was reduced relative to baseline measurements from 104.75±54.35 to 96.40±57.29 mm3 (p=0.327) and AV in 10-mm subsegment with greast disease severity was reduced from 63.01±20.95 to 57.05±27.03 mm3. (p=0.183) However, there were no statistical significance due to small number of subjects. Mean value of percent change in TAV, absolute change in TAV and change in PAV were -8.73±14.87 %, -8.35±19.55 mm3, -5.88±4.60 %, respectively. Conclusions: Rosuvastain therapy showed beneficial effects on lipoprotein levels and inflammatory marker. Atheroma burden was not progressed in the treatment of rosuvastatin for 9 months. Further results will be presented in this meeting.
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