The effect of lipid regulation with atorvastatin on the blood lipid levels and carotid artery plaques in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To analyze the effect of intensive lipid regulation treatment with atorvastatin on the blood lipid levels and carotid artery plaques in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction.  Methods Ninety-two patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction were randomly divided into two groups: observation group (treated by atorvastatin calcium with the dosage of 20 mg/d, N = 46) and control group (treated by diet without lipid-rich food, N=46). Besides, other drugs given to the patients in two groups were the same. The blood lipid levels and the changes of carotid artery plaques in two groups were analyzed and compared before treatment and 3 months after treatment. Results After treatment, the concentrations of total cholesterol [TC, (4.23 ± 0.92) mmol/L vs (5.24 ± 0.68) mmol/L], triglyceride [TG, (2.46 ± 0.28) mmol/L vs (3.33 ± 0.47) mmol/L], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C, (2.52 ± 0.38) mmol/L vs (4.78 ± 0.86) mmol/L] in the patients of observation group were all decreased and significantly lower than those in the control group (P = 0.000, for all), and the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C, (1.13 ± 0.41) mmol/L vs (0.85 ± 0.32) mmol/L] in the patients of observation group was increased and significantly than that in the control group (P = 0.003). The carotid artery plaque size [(20.25 ± 0.32) mm² vs (24.42 ± 10.33) mm²] and thickness [(0.59 ± 0.13) mm vs (1.93 ± 0.23) mm] of carotid artery plaques and intima?media thickness [IMT, (1.32 ± 0.67) mm vs (1.63 ± 0.56) mm] of common carotid artery (CCA) in the patients of observation group were all significantly lower than those in patients in the control group (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.010, respectively). Comparing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and creatinine (Cr) levels after treatment with before treatment, there was no significant difference between 2 groups (P > 0.05, for all).  Conclusions Atorvastatin can effectively improve the abnormal blood lipids and soften or even lessen the carotid artery plaques in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction, therefore it is helpful to the second prevention of cerebral infarction with no obvious adverse reactions.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2015.11.014