[Effects of domestic rosuvastatin on coronary plaque in patients with mild-to-moderate coronary artery stenosis as evaluated by virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of domestic rosuvastatin tablets on coronary plaque in the patients with mild-to-moderate coronary artery stenosis through virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS).

Methods: Eighty-three patients with mild-to-moderate coronary artery stenosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were enrolled and randomized into test group (domestic rosuvastatin, 10 mg/day, n = 42) or control group (CRESTOR, 10 mg/day, n = 41). The serum lipid levels, diameter stenosis (DS) on quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), MLA (minimal lumen area), plaque burden and component of target lesion on VH-IVUS were evaluated at baseline and at 6-month follow-up.

Results: After 6 months, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) significantly decreased while the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level significantly increased in two groups(P < 0.05). VH-IVUS analysis showed that the proportion of necrotic core significantly decreased (domestic rosuvastatin: 14.8% ± 7.0% vs 22.6% ± 7.5%, P < 0.05, crestor: 14.9% ± 7.1% vs 23.1% ± 7.7%, P < 0.05) and the proportion of fibrous tissue significantly increased (domestic rosuvastatin: 51.5% ± 9.9% vs 44.5% ± 9.7%, P < 0.05, crestor: 51.4% ± 10.1% vs 44.3% ± 9.8%, P < 0.05) in two groups. There were no significant changes in DS, plaque burden, MLA or the proportion of dense calcium and fibro-fatty tissue of target lesion in two groups (P > 0.05). And no significant differences existed in serum lipid levels, DS, MLA, plaque burden and component between two group(P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The 6-month treatment of rosuvastatin may stabilize the atherosclerosis plaque and prevent its progression in patients with mild-to-moderate coronary artery stenosis.