What We Have Learned from the Recent Meta-analyses on Diagnostic Methods for Atherosclerotic Plaque Regression. 2018

Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai, and Simona Mastrangeli, and Enrico Romagnoli, and Mariangela Peruzzi, and Giacomo Frati, and Leonardo Roever, and Arturo Giordano
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy. giuseppe.biondizoccai@uniroma1.it.

Atherosclerosis has major morbidity and mortality implications globally. While it has often been considered an irreversible degenerative process, recent evidence provides compelling proof that atherosclerosis can be reversed. Plaque regression is however difficult to appraise and quantify, with competing diagnostic methods available. Given the potential of evidence synthesis to provide clinical guidance, we aimed to review recent meta-analyses on diagnostic methods for atherosclerotic plaque regression. We identified 8 meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2017, including 79 studies and 14,442 patients, followed for a median of 12 months. They reported on atherosclerotic plaque regression appraised with carotid duplex ultrasound, coronary computed tomography, carotid magnetic resonance, coronary intravascular ultrasound, and coronary optical coherence tomography. Overall, all meta-analyses showed significant atherosclerotic plaque regression with lipid-lowering therapy, with the most notable effects on echogenicity, lipid-rich necrotic core volume, wall/plaque volume, dense calcium volume, and fibrous cap thickness. Significant interactions were found with concomitant changes in low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein levels, and with ethnicity. Atherosclerotic plaque regression and conversion to a stable phenotype is possible with intensive medical therapy and can be demonstrated in patients using a variety of non-invasive and invasive imaging modalities.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D012074 Remission Induction Therapeutic act or process that initiates a response to a complete or partial remission level. Induction of Remission,Induction, Remission,Inductions, Remission,Remission Inductions
D002340 Carotid Artery Diseases Pathological conditions involving the CAROTID ARTERIES, including the common, internal, and external carotid arteries. ATHEROSCLEROSIS and TRAUMA are relatively frequent causes of carotid artery pathology. Carotid Atherosclerosis,Common Carotid Artery Disease,Internal Carotid Artery Disease,Arterial Diseases, Carotid,Arterial Diseases, Common Carotid,Arterial Diseases, External Carotid,Arterial Diseases, Internal Carotid,Atherosclerotic Disease, Carotid,Carotid Artery Disorders,Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease,Common Carotid Artery Diseases,External Carotid Artery Diseases,Internal Carotid Artery Diseases,Arterial Disease, Carotid,Artery Disease, Carotid,Artery Diseases, Carotid,Artery Disorder, Carotid,Artery Disorders, Carotid,Atherosclerotic Diseases, Carotid,Carotid Arterial Disease,Carotid Arterial Diseases,Carotid Artery Disease,Carotid Artery Disorder,Carotid Atheroscleroses,Carotid Atherosclerotic Diseases,Disorders, Carotid Artery
D003324 Coronary Artery Disease Pathological processes of CORONARY ARTERIES that may derive from a congenital abnormality, atherosclerotic, or non-atherosclerotic cause. Arteriosclerosis, Coronary,Atherosclerosis, Coronary,Coronary Arteriosclerosis,Coronary Atherosclerosis,Left Main Coronary Artery Disease,Left Main Coronary Disease,Left Main Disease,Arterioscleroses, Coronary,Artery Disease, Coronary,Artery Diseases, Coronary,Atheroscleroses, Coronary,Coronary Arterioscleroses,Coronary Artery Diseases,Coronary Atheroscleroses,Left Main Diseases
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012196 Review Literature as Topic Works about published materials which provide an examination of recent or current literature. These articles can cover a wide range of subject matter at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness based on analyses of literature that may include research findings. The review may reflect the state of the art and may also include reviews as a literary form. State-of-the-Art Review,State-of-the-Art Reviews,Review, State-of-the-Art,Reviews, State-of-the-Art,State of the Art Review,State of the Art Reviews
D015201 Meta-Analysis as Topic A quantitative method of combining the results of independent studies (usually drawn from the published literature) and synthesizing summaries and conclusions which may be used to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness, plan new studies, etc., with application chiefly in the areas of research and medicine. Clinical Trial Overviews,Data Pooling,Overviews, Clinical Trial,Clinical Trial Overview,Data Poolings,Meta Analysis as Topic,Overview, Clinical Trial
D058226 Plaque, Atherosclerotic Lesions formed within the walls of ARTERIES associated with deposits of fat and other substances that accumulate in the lining of the artery wall. Atheromatous Plaque,Atheroma,Atheromatous Plaques,Atherosclerotic Plaque,Atherosclerotic Plaques,Fatty Streak, Arterial,Fibroatheroma,Fibroatheromatous Plaques,Arterial Fatty Streak,Arterial Fatty Streaks,Atheromas,Fibroatheromas,Fibroatheromatous Plaque,Plaque, Atheromatous,Plaque, Fibroatheromatous,Streak, Arterial Fatty

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