Effect of the atorvastatin combined with clopidogrel and aspirin in the treatment of carotid arterial sclerosis in patients with progressive cerebral infarction

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of the atorvastatin combined with clopidogrel and aspirin in the treatment of carotid arterial sclerosis in patients with progressive cerebral infarction.Methods:Fifty-five progressive cerebral infarction patients with carotid arterial sclerosis were randomly divided into the control group and observation group(28 cases each group).The control group were treated with simvastatin(20 mg/d) combined with aspirin(300 mg/d), once a day by oral before sleeping.The observation group were treated with aspirin(100 mg/d) combined with atorvastatin(40 mg/d) and clopidogrel(75 mg/d), once a day by oral before sleeping.Two groups were treated for 6 months.The carotid intima-media thickness(IMT), maximal thickness of atheromatous plaque, and area and number of plaque were observed using Doppler ultrasound before and after treatment.Results:The carotid IMT, maximal thickness of atheromatous plaque, and area of plaque in two groups decreased significantly after treatment(P<0.01), the differences of whose were statistically significant(P<0.05 to P<0.01).After treatment, the number of unstable plaque and stable plaque in control group was almost unchange.15 patches of unstable plaque and 9 patches of stable plaque in observation group decreased, and the differences of whose were statistically significant(P<0.01).Conclusions:The treatment of carotid arterial sclerosis in patients with progressive cerebral infarction with atorvastatin combined with clopidogrel and aspirin can reduce the carotid IMT, maximal thickness and area of plaque, and play a positive role in stabilizing therosclerotic plaque.