Atherosclerotic disease regression with statins: studies using vascular markers

Vascular imaging techniques enable identification of atherosclerosis in the sub-clinical phase and allow assesment of interventions to modify disease progression. Angiography has limited utility for tracking the progression ofatherosclerosis because of its invasive nature, limited sensitivity for detecting early lesions and relatively low interscan reproducibility. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)an electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) are more senstive and reproducible; however, available data on their ability for tracking disease progression are few. Measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) by B-mode ultrasound is a well-validated procedure for this application. In comparison with angiography, CIMT demonstrates greater sensitivity for detecting early atherosclerosis and lipid-rich plaques that are vulnerable to rupture. Continued validation and development of imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will facilitate the assessment of atherosclerosis progression in intervention studies.