Simvastatin attenuates plaque inflammation - Evaluation by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

OBJECTIVES We investigated whether sunvastatin attenuates claque inflammation by using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) co-registered with computerized tomography. BACKGROUND Inflammation plays a key role in progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque. F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET is a promising tool for visualizing inflammation of atherosclerotic plaque. Antiinflammatory action is one of the pleiotropic effects of statins. METHODS Forty-three consecutive subjects, who underwent (18)FDG-PET for cancer screening and had (18)FDG uptakes in the thoracic aorta and/or the carotid arteries, were randomized to either statin group receiving simvastatin (n = 21) or diet group receiving dietary management only (n = 22). The maximum standardized uptake values (SUVs) were measured in individual plaques, and were averaged for analysis of the subjectwise results. The responses were assessed after 3-month treatments. RESULTS Positron emission tomography revealed 117 and 123 (18)FDG-positive plaques in the statin and diet groups, respectively. Simvastatin, but not diet alone, attenuated plaque (18)FDG uptakes and decreased the SUVs (p < 0.01). Simvastatin reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 30% (p < 0.01) and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by 15% (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-C and HDL-C levels were not changed in the diet group. In the statin group, the decrease in the SUV was well correlated with the HDL-C elevation (p < 0.01) but not with the LDL-C reduction. CONCLUSIONS F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET visualized plaque inflammation and simvastatin attenuated it. The LDL-C-independent effects of simvastatin may participate in the beneficial effect. F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET has a potential for visually monitoring plaque inflammation and the therapeutic effectiveness of statins.