Table 3. Clinical studies with IB-IVUS imaging—evaluation of drug efficacy.
| Authors | Subjects | Therapy | Outcomes | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki et al. (28) | 52 subjects with CAD | Pravastatin vs. atorvastatin vs. diet therapy | Percent change in IB-IVUS derived plaque composition | Compared to diet therapy (fibrous volume: +4%, P=ns vs. baseline, lipid volume: +5%, P=ns vs. baseline), a significant increase in fibrous volume and a reduction of lipid volume were identified under the use of pravastatin (fibrous volume: +11%, P<0.01 vs. baseline, lipid volume: −14%, P<0.01 vs. baseline) and atorvastatin (fibrous volume: +15%, P<0.01 vs. baseline, lipid volume: −25%, P<0.01 vs. baseline) |
| Hattori et al. (29) | 42 subjects with stable CAD | 4 mg pitavastatin vs. diet therapy | Percent change in lipid and fibrous volume index | Under the use of 4 mg pitavastatin for 9 months, there were significant differences in percent change in lipid (−6.8±8.0 vs. +2.8±9.9, P=0.031) and fibrous volume index (+6.1±7.3 vs. −3.1±9.2, P=0.014) compared to diet therapy |
| Otagiri et al. (30) | 20 ACS patients | 5 mg rosuvastatin | Volumetric change in calcified, fibrous and lipid components | Changes in calcified and fibrous volume did not differ under the 6-month rosuvastatin use (calcified volume: P=0.06, fibrous volume: P=0.38). By contrast, this therapeutic regimen reduced lipid volume (P<0.001) |
| Watanabe et al. (31) | 193 CAD patients | 4 mg pitavastatin vs. 4 mg pitavastatin + 1,800 mg EPA | Change in IB-IVUS derived plaque components | There was a significant decrease in lipid volume under the use of 4 mg pitavastatin +1,800 mg EPA for 6–8 months (P<0.0001) |
| Niki et al. (32) | 95 CAD patients | Statin alone vs. statin +1,800 mg EPA | Change in IB-IVUS derived plaque components | EPA use was associated with a significant reduction in lipid volume (P=0.007) and a significant increase in fibrous volume (P=0.01) |
| Kuramitsu et al. (33) | 41 ACS patients | 50/100 mg sitagliptin vs. diet therapy | Percent change in lipid volume | At 6-month follow-up, sitagliptin was associated with a greater reduction of lipid volume (−7.1%±21.5% vs. 15.6%±41.8%, P=0.03) |
| Nozue et al. (34) | 26 CAD patients | Sitagliptin vs. diet therapy | Change in IB-IVUS derived plaque components | On serial IB-IVUS analysis, a significant decrease in the lipid plaque volume was observed in subjects receiving sitagliptin (sitagliptin: from 200.1±116.2 to 179.8±121.0 mm3, P=0.02, diet therapy: from 298.3±363.0 to 256.6±386.1 mm3, P=0.1) |
| Yamaguchi et al. (35) | 50 patients with a history of hypertension | 80 mg telmisartan vs. other anti-hypertensive agent | Change in IB-IVUS derived plaque components | Telmisartan use was associated with a significant increase in fibrous volume (51.2%±10.4% to 58.3%±7.7%, P=0.03) and reductions in lipid volume (38.4%±12.4% to 32.8%±9.7%, P=0.03). Any significant changes in the plaque component were not identified in the control group |
ACS, acute coronary syndrome; CAD, coronary artery disease; EPA, Eicosapentaenoic acid; IB-IVUS, integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound.