Background: Large scaled clinical trials have shown that statins and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have beneficial effects on the prognosis of cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of statin (rosuvastatin), ACE inhibitor (ramipril) and combined therapy on lipoprotein levels, inflammatory marker and plaque volume measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with mild to moderate coronary artery stenosis. Methods: We randomly assigned the subjects to three treatment groups (rosuvastatin (Ro), ramipril (Ra), combined (C) group). The study was planned to enroll more than 30 patients in each group. Up to the present, we enrolled 44 patients and 5 patients have dropped out. We administered rosuvastatin 20mg (14 patients), ramipril 10mg (13 patients), rosuvastatin 20mg and ramipril 10 mg (12 patients) daily for 9 months according to their groups. We measured lipoprotein levels, inflammatory markers and plaque volume in baseline and at the end of study. Results: Rosuvastatin alone or combined therapy significantly changed percent change in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels when compared with ramipril alone. (p=0.01, p=0.014, respectively) All three treatments groups showed reduction of hsCRP levels relative to baseline measurements. However, the magnitude of reduction among these three therapies was not significant. (p=0.140) The percent change in total atheroma volume (TAV, %) (Ro group;-8.72±14.87, Ra group; -7.66±14.74, C group; -15.35±9.15), absolute change in TAV (mm3) (Ro group; -8.35±19.55, Ra group; -10.63±17.34, C group; -11.80±0.42), change in percent atheroma volume (%) (Ro group; -5.88±4.60, Ra group; -0.98±1.24, C group; -5.49±1.29) were not significantly different among groups. Conclusions: This ongoing randomized controlled study will give new insight into the effects of statin, ACE inhibitor or combined therapy on lipoprotein levels, inflammatory marker, plaque volumes and their relationships. Further results will be presented at the meeting.
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