Drug Is Found to Unclog Arteries
Denise Gellene
Los Angeles Times
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Intensive doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug have for the first time cleared sticky plaque lodged in arteries, opening the possibility of a nonsurgical method of treating the major cause of heart attacks, researchers reported Monday.
The results were seen in a study of 500 patients taking the highest recommended dosage of Crestor — 40 milligrams — quadruple the typical starting dose of 10 milligrams.
Although the study looked only at Crestor, produced by European drugmaker AstraZeneca, experts said it was likely that high doses of other statin drugs also would remove blockages from arteries because the medications were similar.
Some researchers criticized the study because it did not compare the Crestor patients with a control group taking a placebo or other cholesterol-lowering pills. Such studies are the gold standard in research because they reduce the possibility of bias.
Mar 14, 2006
Denise Gellene
Los Angeles Times
_____________
Intensive doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug have for the first time cleared sticky plaque lodged in arteries, opening the possibility of a nonsurgical method of treating the major cause of heart attacks, researchers reported Monday.
The results were seen in a study of 500 patients taking the highest recommended dosage of Crestor — 40 milligrams — quadruple the typical starting dose of 10 milligrams.
Although the study looked only at Crestor, produced by European drugmaker AstraZeneca, experts said it was likely that high doses of other statin drugs also would remove blockages from arteries because the medications were similar.
Some researchers criticized the study because it did not compare the Crestor patients with a control group taking a placebo or other cholesterol-lowering pills. Such studies are the gold standard in research because they reduce the possibility of bias.
Mar 14, 2006
