Effects of fluvastatin on the carotid arterial media as assessed by integrated backscatter ultrasound compared with pulse-wave velocity.

Abstract

Our goal is to show the effectiveness of fluvastatin in reducing arterial sclerosis using integrated backscatter (IB) values rather than depending on the pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and stiffness beta. Atherosclerotic changes consist of two components: atherosis as a structural change and sclerosis as a functional change; IB ultrasound of carotid media was useful for assessment of arterial sclerosis. We measured IB values in the media of 40 segments of carotid arteries in 40 patients with hyperlipidemia before and after statin therapy or diet for 12 months (fluvastatin [F group] 40 mg/day, n = 20; control [C group]: diet, n = 20). Pulse-wave velocity, intima-media thickness, and stiffness beta were measured at the same time. At baseline, IB values correlated with PWV (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) and stiffness beta (r = 0.47, p = 0.002) in 40 patients with hyperlipidemia. Integrated backscatter values did not change in the C group but decreased in the F group (from 12.3 +/- 2.1 dB to 11.3 +/- 2.1 dB, p = 0.002). Also, PWV increased in the C group (from 1,728 +/- 687 cm/s to 1,771 +/- 716 cm/s, p = 0.021) but decreased in the F group (from 1,848 +/- 582 cm/s to 1,768 +/- 549 cm/s, p = 0.012). Stiffness beta decreased in the F group (from 14.0 +/- 3.9 to 12.1 +/- 3.5, p = 0.002). Statin therapy with fluvastatin improved arterial sclerosis as assessed by IB values.