Transesophageal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Conjunction With Lipid Lowering Measures

Summary

This research is being done to investigate the ability of an experimental imaging method - transesophageal magnetic resonance imaging (TEMRI), to detect the change in aortic atherosclerotic plaque burden and morphology between patients on high dose cholesterol lowering medications and patients on standard dose cholesterol lowering medications. This study will use TEMRI to see how atherosclerosis (cholesterol build up) changes with cholesterol lowering medications. This study will also investigate whether these cholesterol-lowering medications will change levels of blood tests, called inflammatory markers, in patients' blood. People with atherosclerosis may join this study. This study will also store blood samples for future studies of cardiac diseases; no gene testing will be done.

Timeline

Start

2000-08

Primary completion

—

Completion

2004-04

Publications

• Results Steen H, Warren WP, Desai M, Gautam S, Lai S, Heath S, Stuber M, Lima JA. Combined transesophageal and surface MRI provides optimal imaging in aortic atherosclerosis. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2004;6(4):909-16. doi: 10.1081/jcmr-200036202.
• Results Lima JA, Desai MY, Steen H, Warren WP, Gautam S, Lai S. Statin-induced cholesterol lowering and plaque regression after 6 months of magnetic resonance imaging-monitored therapy. Circulation. 2004 Oct 19;110(16):2336-41. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000145170.22652.51. Epub 2004 Oct 11.
• Gottlieb I, Agarwal S, Gautam S, Desai M, Steen H, Warren WP, Xavier SS, Lima JA. Aortic plaque regression as determined by magnetic resonance imaging with high-dose and low-dose statin therapy. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2008 Jul;9(7):700-6. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0b013e3282f447c3.

Drugs

Indications