The Reversing Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering (REVERSAL) study followed 502 patients, who were diagnosed with coronary heart disease and required cardiac catheterization, or angiograms.
Patients in the 18-month study had at least one arterial vessel with 20 percent or more constriction due to plaque build-up.
This is the first head-to-head large-scale study to compare the effectiveness of two active treatments – atorvastatin (80 mg/day) versus pravastatin (40 mg/day) – in reducing plaque build-up.
"These results clearly show that aggressively lowering cholesterol levels with atorvastatin calcium stopped the progression of atherosclerosis," said Dr. Steve Nissen, medical director of the Cleveland Clinic Cardiovascular Coordinating Center and principal Investigator of the REVERSAL study.
"This study further demonstrates the benefits of aggressively managing cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis," he added.
Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of death from heart attack and stroke, occurs when there is a build-up of cholesterol-rich fatty areas called plaques in the arteries.
The break-up and dispersal of these plaques can block blood flow throughout the body, which can be fatal. It is estimated that atherosclerosis accounts for more than 75 percent of all deaths from cardiovascular disease.
"The REVERSAL results reinforce the outstanding effectiveness of atorvastatin in treating patients who have high cholesterol and signs of heart disease," said Dr. Joseph Feczko, Pfizer executive vice president for global research and development and president for worldwide development.
Since the introduction of atorvastatin, its safety and effectiveness have been supported through an extensive clinical trial program, the Atorvastatin Landmark Program, with more than 400 ongoing and completed trials involving more than 80,000 patients.
Atorvastatin is the leading cholesterol-lowering therapy in the world with more than 76 million patient years of experience.
Atorvastatin calcium is a prescription medicine used with diet to lower cholesterol. Patients are advised to seek medical advice before taking any prescription medicine.
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