The short-term effect of atorvastatin on carotid plaque morphology assessed by computer-assisted gray-scale densitometry: a pilot study

• Published in: Neurological research (New York) Vol. 33; no. 9; p. 991
• Main Authors: Della-Morte, David, Moussa, Issam, Elkind, Mitchell S, Sacco, Ralph L, Rundek, Tatjana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.2011
• Subjects: Aged; Atorvastatin; Carotid Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Stenosis - drug therapy; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Densitometry - methods; Female; Heptanoic Acids - therapeutic use; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Male; Pilot Projects; Pyrroles - therapeutic use; Ultrasonography

Soft, lipid-containing carotid plaques, which appear echolucent on ultrasound imaging, have been associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. We sought to investigate the effect of short-term treatment with atorvastatin on the change of carotid plaque echodensity. We treated 40 stroke-free and...