<h2 class="section-title u-h3 u-margin-l-top u-margin-xs-bottom">Abstract</h2> <div id="as0005"> <h3 class="u-h4 u-margin-m-top u-margin-xs-bottom" id="st0010">Aims</h3> <p id="sp0040"><span><span>The aim of the trial was to examine the influence of<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/ezetimibe" title="Learn more about Ezetimibe from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">ezetimibe</a><span> </span>on plaque morphology in patients with<span> </span></span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/st-segment-elevation-myocardial-infarction" title="Learn more about ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction</a><span> </span>(STEMI) with respect to<span> </span></span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/fibrous-cap" title="Learn more about Fibrous Cap from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">fibrous cap</a><span> </span>thickness (FCT) and arcs of lipid plaque, calcific plaque, and macrophages using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).</p> </div> <div id="as0010"> <h3 class="u-h4 u-margin-m-top u-margin-xs-bottom" id="st0015">Methods and results</h3> <p id="sp0045">In 87 statin naïve patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous intervention, a non-culprit study plaque in a non-infarct related<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/coronary-artery" title="Learn more about Coronary Artery from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">coronary artery</a><span><span> </span>was assessed with OCT at baseline and after 12 months. Patients were treated with<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/atorvastatin" title="Learn more about Atorvastatin from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">atorvastatin</a><span><span> </span>80 mg and randomized (1:1) to<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/ezetimibe" title="Learn more about Ezetimibe from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">ezetimibe</a><span> </span>10 mg (n = 43) or placebo (n = 44). An increase in median FCT (ezetimibe 200 (140–260) μm to 240 (190–305) μm (p = 0.002) vs. placebo 205 (135–260) μm to 230 (180–270) μm (p < 0.001), between groups p = ns), a reduction in lipid arc (ezetimibe 1728.5 (1022.5–3904.7)° to 1164.5 (736.6–2580.1)° (p = 0.001) vs. placebo 1671.6 (978.3–2868.7)° to 1373.7 (791.2–2267.3)° (p = 0.019), between groups p = ns), and macrophage arc (ezetimibe 1730.3 (965.7–2984.4)° to 1324.8 (819.0–2819.7)° (p < 0.05) vs. placebo 1570.5 (794.7–3016.8)° to 1418.9 (584.1–2501.1)° (p < 0.01), between groups p = ns) were observed.</span></span></p> </div> <div id="as0015"> <h3 class="u-h4 u-margin-m-top u-margin-xs-bottom" id="st0020">Conclusion</h3> <p id="sp0050">Aggressive LDL-lowering resulted in changes in OCT assessed plaque composition by increased FCT thickness and a reduction in lipid content and macrophage infiltration. Addition of ezetimibe 10 mg to<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/atorvastatin" title="Learn more about Atorvastatin from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">atorvastatin</a><span> </span>80 mg resulted in further LDL reduction, but no additional change in plaque composition was found.</p> </div>