Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
CONTEXT: Statins reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and slow progression of coronary atherosclerosis. However, no data exist describing the relationship between statin-induced changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and disease progression. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between changes in LDL-C and HDL-C levels and atheroma burden. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Post-hoc analysis combining raw data from 4 prospective randomized trials (performed in the United States, North America, Europe, and Australia between 1999 and 2005), in which 1455 patients with angiographic coronary disease underwent serial intravascular ultrasonography while receiving statin treatment for 18 months or for 24 months. Ultrasound analysis was performed in the same core laboratory for all of the studies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relationship between changes in lipoprotein levels and coronary artery atheroma volume. RESULTS: During statin therapy, mean (SD) LDL-C levels were reduced from 124.0 (38.3) mg/dL (3.2 0.99 mmol/L) to 87.5 (28.8) mg/dL (2.3 0.75 mmol/L) (a 23.5% decrease; P or =5% reduction in atheroma volume) was observed in patients with levels of LDL-C less than the mean (87.5 mg/dL) during treatment and percentage increases of HDL-C greater than the mean (7.5%; P<.001). No significant differences were found with regard to clinical events. CONCLUSIONS: Statin therapy is associated with regression of coronary atherosclerosis when LDL-C is substantially reduced and HDL-C is increased by more than 7.5%. These findings suggest that statin benefits are derived from both reductions in atherogenic lipoprotein levels and increases in HDL-C, although it remains to be determined whether the atherosclerotic regression associated with these changes in lipid levels will translate to meaningful reductions in clinical events and improved clinical outcomes.
Nicholls et al. (Tue,) studied this question.