PhD Scientific Days 2026

Poster Session 1.P - Cardiovascular Medicine and Research

Early Plaque Changes After Short-Term Intensive Statin Therapy: Initial Results From the INTENSE Trial

Előadó neve

Dr. Száraz, Lili

Neptune code

V13JIL

Előadó munkahelye

Medical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis University

Előadó telefonszáma

06704153891

Előadó e-mail címe

szaraz.lili@semmelweis.hu

Az előadás címe

Early Plaque Changes After Short-Term Intensive Statin Therapy: Initial Results From the INTENSE Trial

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Lili Száraz Dr.¹, Réka Sebestyén-Dósa, MD¹, Barnabás Baksa, MD¹, István Csulak, MD¹, Sámuel Beke, MD¹, Kristóf Nagy, MD¹, Béla Merkely, MD, PhD, DSc², Pál Maurovich-Horvat, MD, PhD, DSc¹

1: Medical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis University
2: Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University

Bemutatás módja

Poszter

Szekció

Poster Session 1.P - Cardiovascular Medicine and Research

Language of the presentation

Hungarian

Preferred session

Cardiovascular Medicine and Research

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction: The early effect of intensified statin therapy on coronary plaque morphology and physiology, particularly as quantified by photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT), remains insufficiently characterized.
Aim: Therefore, we aim to assess the effect of the short-term intensified statin therapy on coronary anatomy, physiology, and plaque composition using PCD-CT.
Methods: INTENSE is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial enrolling statin-naïve patients referred for coronary CT angiography (CCTA) due to stable chest pain, with at least mild coronary atherosclerosis and non-hemodynamically significant disease (FFR-CT ≥ 0.75). Participants were randomized to rosuvastatin 40 mg daily or a matching placebo. CCTA was performed at baseline and 3 months using PCD-CT with a standardized protocol. Coronary plaque assessment was quantified with dedicated software, including total plaque volume (TPV), non-calcified plaque volume (NCPV) and low attenuation plaque volume (LAP). The prespecified primary analysis compared the 3-month change in plaque burden between groups.
Results: Of 46 randomized participants, 29 completed the 3-month CCTA (mean age 55.8 ± 6.7 years; 11 % women). At 3 months, NCPV decreased significantly in the rosuvastatin group compared with placebo (Δ −72 mm³ [−11.2%] vs Δ −3 mm³ [−0.4%]; between-group ΔΔ −69 mm³; p = 0.003). Similarly, TPV showed a greater regression with rosuvastatin (Δ −98 mm³ [−10.6%] vs Δ −5 mm³ [−0.6%]; p = 0.002). Exploratory physiological metrics (including FFR-CT-derived parameters) showed no meaningful change with rosuvastatin versus placebo (Δ +0.00 vs Δ −0.00; p = 0.74), with follow-up lowest-vessel FFR-CT 0.80 vs 0.79 (p = 0.41). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 1% vs 3%, with no cases of clinically significant laboratory marker elevation or myopathy requiring discontinuation.
Conclusions: In statin-naïve patients with stable chest pain undergoing PCD-CT CCTA, short-term high-intensity rosuvastatin was associated with early regression of coronary plaque burden, driven predominantly by reductions in NCPV and TPV. These findings support PCD-CT-based quantitative plaque assessment as a sensitive tool for detecting early treatment responses and may help define “statin responder” phenotypes for longer-term follow-up.
Funding: Supported by the SE250+ Funding Scheme

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Pál Maurovich-Horvat, MD, PhD, DSc

Publication of my abstract

I give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

in doctoral studies after complex exam (PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

poszter

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

7438

Start

17:12

End

17:15