Effect of Short Term Atorvastatin Treatment,80mg/Day on Early Regression of Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Lesions
Effect of Short Term Atorvastatin Treatment,80mg/Day on Early Regression of Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Lesions
Atherosclerosis is a disease in which the blood vessels become blocked by plaques (consisting
 of fat, calcification, and fibrous tissue), reducing blood flow to vital organs and
 tissues.Blockage of the carotid arteries in the neck is a major cause of stroke. One way of
 treating carotid atherosclerosis is with cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins. Statins
 have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 24-40% and risk pf stroke by
 11-30%.The purpose of this study is to determine if short term treatment with atorvastatin
 causes early favorable changes in the plaques that block blood flow through the carotid
 arteries. These changes can be assessed 1) by taking pictures of the carotid arteries with
 MRI and Ultrasound before and after statin treatment, and 2) by special studies of the
 plaques removed from the carotid arteries by surgery.
Candidates for bilateral carotid endarterectomy (CEA) who meet study criteria will provide
 informed consent before their randomization. Before the first CEA, the patient will have MRI,
 US, and EBCT exams of both carotids. The most occlusive plaque will be resected at the first
 CEA. The patient will then receive atorvastatin 80 mg/day for 3 months. Then the second CEA
 will be performed. Six weeks after the second CEA, the patient will have another MRI, US, and
 EBCT exam and at 6, 12, and 18 months thereafter. This protocol will allow comparison of the
 characteristics of the plaque that has been exposed to drug vs the plaque that has not been
 exposed. It will also allow monitoring the effect of drug on restenosis after surgery.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Men or women

 -  >18 yrs old

 -  Expected to have an endarterectomy on each carotid artery

 -  No contraindications for atorvastatin

 -  Stable cardiovascular health

 -  Lipid lowering treatment less than 6 mo duration

 -  Diabetic included if diabetes is controlled

 -  Patient is not claustrophobic

 -  Patient has evaluable carotid plaques.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patient has had previous carotid endarterectomy,stenting, or other procedure

 -  Unstable cardiovascular status

 -  Hypersensitivity to statin therapy

 -  Neck anatomy preventing acquiring bilateral evaluable plaques

 -  Weight over 285 lbs.