PROGRESSION AND REGRESSION OF THE ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE

In animals in which atherosclerosis was induced experimentally (by a high cholesterol diet) regression of the atherosclerotic lesion was demonstrated after serum cholesterol was reduced by cholesterol-lowering drugs or a low-fat diet. Whether regression of advanced coronary artery lesions also takes place in humans after a similar intervention remains conjectural. However, several randomized studies, primarily employing lipid-lowering intervention or comprehensive changes in lifestyle, have demonstrated using serial angiograms, that it is possible to achieve less progression, arrest or even (small) regression of atherosclerotic lesions. The lipid-lowering trials (NHBLI, CLAS, POSCH, FATS, SCOR and STARS) studied 1240 symptomatic patients; mostly men, with moderately elevated cholesterol levels and moderately severe angiographic-proven coronary artery disease. A variety of lipid-lowering lipid-lowering drugs, in addition to a diet, were used over an intervention period ranging from 2 to 3 years. In ail but one study (NHBLI), the progression of coronary atherosclerosis was less in the treated group, but regression was induced in only a few patients. The overall relative risk of progression of coronary atherosclerosis was 0.62 and 2.13, respectively. The induced angiographic differences were small and did nor produce any significant haemodynamic benefit. The most important result was that the disease process could be stabilized in the majority of patients. Three comprehensive lifestyle change trials (the Lifestyle Heart Study, STARS and the Heidelberg Study) studied 183 patients who were subjected to stress management, and/or intensive exercise, in addition to a low fat diet, over a period ranging from I to 3 years All three trials demonstrated less progression, and more regression with overall relative risks of 0.40 and 2.35 respectively, in the intervention groups. Angiographic trials demonstrated that retardation or arrest of coronary atherosclerosis was possible after an intervention, but the ultimate goal, regression of the lesion, was only achieved in a small number of patients. However the ability to stabilize coronary atherosclerosis is a considerable achievement for those patients with coronary atherosclerosis.