@article{3164225,
    title = "Statins Influence Long Term Restenosis and Cardiovascular Events
Following Carotid Endarterectomy",
    author = "Avgerinos, Efthymios D. and Kakisis, John D. and Moulakakis, and Konstantinos G. and Giannakopoulos, Triantafillos G. and Sfyroeras, and George and Antonopoulos, Constantinos N. and Kadoglou, Nikolaos P. and and Liapi, Christos D.",
    journal = "Current Vascular Pharmacology",
    year = "2015",
    volume = "13",
    number = "2",
    pages = "239-247",
    publisher = "BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD",
    issn = "1570-1611",
    doi = "10.2174/15701611113119990130",
    keywords = "Carotid endarterectomy; restenosis; mortality; echolucent plaque;
statins",
    abstract = "Objective: To evaluate the impact of statins on carotid restenosis (CR)
>50% and future cardiovascular events (CVE), in patients undergoing
carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
Methods: 570 consecutive patients (656 CEAs) operated between 1990 and
2009, were included in this retrospective study. The study cohort was
followed for an average of 82 months (median 80, range 12180 months).
Endpoints were the development of CR >50%, the occurrence of CVE
(myocardial infarction, stroke) and overall mortality. Kaplan-Meier
curves and Cox regression models were used to assess outcomes.
Results: 92 restenosis events were recorded. Freedom from restenosis
>50% at 5, 10 and 15 years of follow-up was 92, 82 and 69%,
respectively. Compared with statin-receivers, statin-free patients had a
significantly higher 15-year restenosis rate (41 vs 10%; P = .001), a
significantly higher CVE rate (49 vs 14%; P = .001) and a significantly
higher mortality rate (24 vs 18%; P = .034). Adjusting for other
covariates statins were independently associated with lower restenosis
rate (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31-0.88; P = .016),
cardiovascular events (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.26-0.61; P < 0.001) and
long-term mortality (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33-0.95; P = .032).
Conclusion: Statins not only reduce cardiovascular events and mortality
but may also have an important effect on the anatomic durability of CEA.
These data support the use of statins in patients with carotid stenosis
undergoing CEA."
}