Effects Of Atorvastatin On Macrophage Activity And Plaque Inflammation Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2007-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
A new way of scanning narrowing in the arteries (main blood vessels) caused by fatty deposits
known as plaques has been developed. Heart attacks and strokes occur when plaques become
inflamed, depending on the artery affected. Currently used clinical tests can only tell us
how much the vessel is blocked by the plaque and not how inflamed (i.e. dangerous) it is.
This new method of scanning using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a special agent called
Sinerim can identify inflamed plaques. This study will evaluate patients with plaques in
their arteries in their neck at risk of strokes to see whether treatment with a
cholesterol-lowering drug called atorvastatin can reduce the amount of inflammation within
the artery wall within the first three months of treatment. If this effect can be measured
using MRI scanning with the use of Sinerim then the results of this study will provide
additional clinical validation of the use of MRI scanning combined with agents such as
Sinerem®.