Plaque Inflammation and Dysfunctional HDL in AIM-HIGH
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a serious health concern that affects millions of people in
the United States. It is usually caused by atherosclerosis-a condition that occurs when fatty
material and plaque build up on the walls of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the
heart, causing the arteries to narrow. As the arteries narrow, blood flow to the heart can
slow down or stop, which can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, heart attack, or heart
failure. Another component of CHD events involves inflammatory changes that result in
structural breakdown of atherosclerotic plaques. Adding niacin to statin medications may be
an effective way to block inflammation in the atherosclerotic plaques. This study will
examine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images and blood samples of participants in the
AIM-HIGH study who are taking niacin plus statins or statins alone to determine the effect of
these medications on inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques.