Aim: To clarify the potential role of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in assessing the remodelling impact of statin therapy on plaque burden and compositions.
Methods and results: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine the effect of statin therapy on different plaque volumes assessed by serial CCTA. Twelve studies were included with a mean (±standard deviation) follow-up period of 14.5 ± 9.5 months. Data on plaque volume were pooled using weighted mean difference method. Available data on a total of 199 intensive statin therapy receivers, 404 moderate statin therapy receivers and 189 controls (mean age = 62 ± 5 years, male gender = 78%) were meta-analysed. Intensive statin therapy reduced total plaque volume (TPV) by -20.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) -31.17, -10.56; P < 0.001] mm3, while moderate statin therapy reduced it by -1.67 (95% CI -9.99, 6.65; P = 0.69) mm3. In contrast TPV increased significantly in controls by 14.96 (95% CI 5.28, 24.64; P = 0.002) mm3. Percents of mean volume regression were -3.6% and -0.7% in intensive and moderate statin receivers, respectively, vs. +5.8% progression in controls. Statin therapy decreased non-calcified plaque volume by -7.62 (95% CI -17.38, 2.13; P = 0.124) mm3 and low attenuation plaque volume by -5.84 (95% CI -8.02, -3.66; P < 0.001) mm3. In statin therapy receivers, calcified plaque volume increased by 11.83 (95% CI 3.37, 20.29; P = 0.006) mm3 and calcium signal intensity increased by 21.99 (95% CI 9.2, 34.8; P < 0.001) Hounsfield units.
Conclusions: Initial studies demonstrated CCTA's possible role in evaluating the effect of statin therapy on plaque volume and composition. Further studies are warranted to delineate the mechanisms behind plaque changes.