ATHEROMA: lipid-lowering drug reduces USPIO-defined inflammation

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Presented at the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland meeting, the ATHEROMA trial showed that lipid-lowering therapy is associated with a reduction in ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-defined inflammation.
The ATHEROMA trial enrolled 47 patients, who were screened for USPIO “positivity” and randomised to 10mg or 80mg of atorvastatin. Imaging was performed at six and 12 weeks as well as biomarkers and transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Researchers found that the higher dose of lipid-lowering drug was associated with a significant reduction in USPIO-determined inflammation, the primary endpoint.