Title

B-mode ultrasound assessment of pravastatin treatment effect on carotid and femoral walls and its correlations with coronary arteriographic findings. A report of the Regression Growth Evaluation Statin Study (REGRESS).

Purpose

To determine the effects of pravastatin on carotid and femoral artery walls .

Design

As per REGRESS. Imaging of carotid and femoral arteries by B-mode ultrasound at baseline, 6,12, 18, and 24 months .

Patients

255 patients that were part of REGRESS .

Follow-up

24 months (ultrasound findings) .

Treatment regimen

As per REGRESS

Results

• Baseline IMT (intimal thickness) was 0.86 ± 0.33 mm. IMT decreased 0.05 ± 0.20 (SEM) mm in patients receiving
pravastatin; IMT was unchanged in the placebo group (p=0.0085 pravastatin vs placebo).
• Maximal IMT was 1.07 ± 0.43 mm and decreased by 0.05 ± 0.22 mm with pravastatin but increased by 0.01 ± 0.21 mm
in the placebo patients.

Conclusion

Pravastatin decreased intimal medial thickening of carotid and femoral arteries.