OBJECTIVES: Changes in coronary plaque color and morphology by statin therapy were evaluated using coronary angioscopy. BACKGROUND: Coronary plaque stabilization by statin therapy has not been clarified in @entity1 . METHODS: Thirty-one @entity1 with @entity453 were divided into either the comparison group (n = 16) or the @entity2993 group (n = 15). Before treatment and 12 months after, the color and complexity of 145 coronary plaques were determined according to angioscopic findings. The yellow score of the plaque was defined as 0 (white), 1 (light yellow), 2 (yellow), or 3 (dark yellow), and its disrupted score was defined as 0 (smooth surface) or 1 (irregular surface) and as 0 (without @entity715 ) or 1 (with @entity715 ). In each @entity1 , the mean yellow score and mean disrupted score were calculated. RESULTS: Mean low-density lipoprotein @entity165 (LDL-C) decreased by 45% in the @entity2993 group, whereas an increase of 9% was seen in the comparison group. The mean yellow score decreased from 2.03 to 1.13 in the @entity2993 group, whereas it increased from 1.67 to 1.99 in the comparison group. There was a good correlation between the change in the mean yellow score and the change in LDL-C levels (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001). The change in the mean yellow score and mean disrupted score differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report clarifying detailed changes in coronary plaque by statin in @entity1 . This study indicated that lipid-lowering therapy changes plaque color and morphology and should then lead to coronary plaque stabilization.

Changes in coronary plaque color and morphology by lipid-lowering therapy with XXXX : serial evaluation by coronary angioscopy.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['humans', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity2993 :: ('MESH:C065179', 'Chemical') :: ['atorvastatin'] @entity453 :: ('MESH:D003324', 'Disease') :: ['coronary artery disease'] @entity715 :: ('MESH:D013927', 'Disease') :: ['thrombus'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['cholesterol']
@entity2993 :: (MESH:C065179,Chemical) :: ['atorvastatin']
