Role of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in assessing early curative effect of rosuvastatin on carotid atherosclerotic plaques

Objective To study the role of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in assessing early curative effect of rosuvastatin on carotid atherosclerotic plaques.Methods Twenty-five patients with lipid-rich necrotic core carotid atherosclerotic plaques received intensive rosuvastatin treatment (5-20 mg/d) for 2 years,and carotid artery DCE-MRI at baseline before treatment and at months 3,12 and 24 after rosuvastatin treatment.Their adventitial transfer constant (K) and fractional plasma volume (Vp) were measured and compared during the rosuvastatin treatment.Results The Vp was significantly smaller at months 3,12 and 24 after rosuvastatin treatment than at baseline before rosuvastatin treatment (0.09±0.05,0.07±0.04 and 0.06±0.05 vs 0.12± 0.06,P＜0.05) with a reduction of 25.0％ after 3 months of rosuvastatin treatment and a gradual reduction after 24 months of rosuvastatin treatment (P＜0.05).The adventitial K was mildly reduced after 24 months of rosuvastatin treatment (P＞0.05).Conclusion DCE-MRI can assess the early curative effect of rosuvastatin on carotid atherosclerotic plaques.