Reduction of intima-media thickness in subjects with asymptomatic carotid disease: two cases from the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis DIsease Manfredonia Study (ACADIM Study).

The intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid common arteries (CCA) represents an important step of carotid plaque formation and progression, and is a characteristic marker of atherosclerosis, one of the most principal determinants of coronary artery disease (CAD). Change in IMT is one of the currently used markers to evaluate the progression of atherosclerotic process. In particular rosuvastatin (ROS) has demonstrated in a large scale controlled study with placebo a significant reduction of coronary atherosclerosis. Two subjects with normal lipidic profile underwent a carotid ultrasound investigations (CUI) and received ROS (10 mg/day). The CUI documented a bilateral IMT of CCDX and CCSX for the case A (0.101 cm dx-0.105 cm sx; mean 0.103 cm) and B (0.114 cm dx-0.108 cm sx; mean 0.111 cm), in absence of stenosis or occlusion. After 16 treatment-weeks with ROS it has found a significant reduction of IMT for both case A (0.081 cm dx -0.096 cm sx; mean 0.088 cm) than case B (0.082 cm dx-0.084 cm sx; mean 0.083 cm). The treatment with ROS has been well tolerated and no adverse effects has been reported. ROS represents an efficacious IMT-lowering agent of the statin class. The two presented case reports confirm the benefit of ROS in the IMT reduction in subjects with normal LDL-C values.