Work

Statin-Induced Decade-Long Stabilization of Noncalcified Coronary Plaque Despite a Zero Calcium Score

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A 48-year-old man with a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of 0 underwent serial artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) from 2015 to 2026, which revealed progressive noncalcified plaque. FIRST-IN-HUMAN/EARLY REPORTS SUMMARY: ) appeared in 2025, consistent with early stabilization. DISCUSSION: This longitudinal single-patient study provides imaging-based evidence that intensive statin therapy can decelerate noncalcified plaque progression, even in the absence of baseline calcium, as measured by quantitative AI-CCTA. NOVELTY: This is the first human case documenting statin-mediated slowing of noncalcified plaque in a CAC 0 patient with decade-long serial CCTA. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: AI-quantified CCTA reveals subclinical atherosclerosis invisible to CAC 0 scoring and enables plaque-directed therapy monitoring in individual patients.

Source: JACC Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.106400

Author: Ronald P. Karlsberg

Institutions: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute

Language: English

Topic: Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $850