Nana Dong1,2, Zulong Xie1, Jiannan Dai1, Wei Wang1, Rong Sun1, Yefei Zhan1, Meng Sun2, Jinwei Tian3, Bo Yu4,5. 1. Department of Cardiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150086, China. 2. The Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Harbin Medical University, Ministry of Education, 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150086, China. 3. Department of Cardiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150086, China. Tianjinweidr2009@163.com. 4. Department of Cardiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150086, China. dryu_hmu@163.com. 5. The Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Harbin Medical University, Ministry of Education, 246 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150086, China. dryu_hmu@163.com.
Abstract
AIMS: The incidence of cardiac events is increased in diabetic patients even after lipid-lowering therapy. This study aimed to compare the statin-induced changes in the characteristics of vulnerable plaques in patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) and in those with better- or poorly controlled DM, measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 99 non-culprit lipid-rich plaques from 75 patients who underwent intensive OCT imaging examination. Thirty-four non-diabetic patients were assigned to Group A. According to the average HbA1c level, 22 diabetic patients were assigned to Group B, and 19, to Group C (average HbA1c < 8 and ≥8 %, respectively). RESULTS: Following 12 months of statin therapy, similar improvements in serum lipid levels were observed in the three groups. However, the increase in fibrous-cap thickness of plaques was the highest in Group A (Group A, 183 %; Group B, 104 %; and Group C, 53 %). Significant reductions in lipid volume index were observed in Groups A and B (Group A: -12 %, P < 0.001; Group B: -13 %, P = 0.038; Group C: 7 %, P = 0.948). Percent changes in OCT measurements were significantly correlated with average HbA1c in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Improved glucose control may enhance the statin-induced reduction in characteristics of vulnerable plaque in diabetic patients.
AIMS: The incidence of cardiac events is increased in diabeticpatients even after lipid-lowering therapy. This study aimed to compare the statin-induced changes in the characteristics of vulnerable plaques in patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) and in those with better- or poorly controlled DM, measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 99 non-culprit lipid-rich plaques from 75 patients who underwent intensive OCT imaging examination. Thirty-four non-diabeticpatients were assigned to Group A. According to the average HbA1c level, 22 diabeticpatients were assigned to Group B, and 19, to Group C (average HbA1c < 8 and ≥8 %, respectively). RESULTS: Following 12 months of statin therapy, similar improvements in serum lipid levels were observed in the three groups. However, the increase in fibrous-cap thickness of plaques was the highest in Group A (Group A, 183 %; Group B, 104 %; and Group C, 53 %). Significant reductions in lipid volume index were observed in Groups A and B (Group A: -12 %, P < 0.001; Group B: -13 %, P = 0.038; Group C: 7 %, P = 0.948). Percent changes in OCT measurements were significantly correlated with average HbA1c in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Improved glucose control may enhance the statin-induced reduction in characteristics of vulnerable plaque in diabeticpatients.