The effects of statin therapy on carotid plaque composition and volume: A systematic review and meta-analysis

摘要

Background and purpose. - Prior studies have demonstrated that statin use stabilizes and diminishes atherosclerotic lesions. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to study the effects of statin therapy on carotid plaque composition as seen on serial high-resolution carotid plaque MRI. We hypothesized that statin therapy would result in significant improvements in lipid-rich-necrotic core (LRNC) volumes, wall volumes and lumen volumes.