Statin therapy reduces vertebral artery atherosclerotic plaques: a case report with insight from vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Posterior circulation stroke accounts for a substantial proportion of ischemic cerebrovascular events, with vertebral artery (VA) atherosclerosis representing an important etiological factor. Although statin therapy is a well-established modality for stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques and reducing stroke risk, its direct effects on VA plaque regression have not been sufficiently explored, particularly through high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI). We present a case demonstrating VA atherosclerotic plaque regression on serial VW-MRI following statin therapy.

Case description

A 65-year-old man with hypertension presented with right upper extremity paresthesia. Initial imaging, including VW-MRI and transfemoral cerebral angiography (TFCA),

SUBMITTER: Kim SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12514641 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature