CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON ATORVASTATIN TREATMENT IN THE CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS PLAQUE

Objective To observe the effect of atorvastatin on carotid atherosclerosis in in gerontal patients.Methods 116 patients with Carotid artery plaque were divided into two groups randomly.58 patients were treated with atorvastatin(10mg)per night for 12 months.58 patients were treated without atorvastatin,and considered as control group.The fasting blood lipid level and carotid artery plaques score were measured at the beginning of the study、the 6th month and the 12th month in both groups.Results All 116 cases patients complete treatment of 12 months.The blood lipid level: at the 6th and 12th months'treatment,compared with the beginning,the levels of blood TC、TG、LDL decreased significantly,HDL increased significantly(P0.05),while those of control group showed nosignificant difference(P0.05).The carotid artery plaques score: there is statistically significant difference on the carotid artery plaque score between treated and untreated groups at both 6th month and 12th month.In atorvastatin-treated group,the plaque scores of the patients were decreased(P0.01) while those of control group showed no significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion This study suggested that atorvastatin could possibly delay even lighten the progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis in addition to their lipid-lowering effects.