Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40533742›Full record

ArticleThrombosis journal2025

Echogenicity of carotid plaques as a predictor of regression following lipid-lowering therapy.

Cheng-Hui Fan, Ying Hao, Lyu-Fan Chen, Jing Cheng, Yi-Qiong Wang, Ling-Hao Xu, Ji-Ming Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Thrombosis journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. TGF-β1 Is Associated with Left Ventricular Dysfunction.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Cheng-Hui Fan *Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongii University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Ying Hao *Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Lyu-Fan ChenDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Jing ChengDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yi-Qiong WangDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Ling-Hao XuDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Ji-Ming LiDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongii University, Shanghai, 200092, China. jimingliljm@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAtherosclerotic plaque regression under lipid-lowering therapy shows considerable individual variation, and the factors influencing this variability remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between carotid plaque echogenicity and plaque regression in patients receiving lipid-lowering therapy, and to identify ultrasound characteristics that might predict plaque regression.

methodsA total of 838 patients with carotid plaques receiving lipid-lowering therapy were enrolled between July 2020 and May 2024 and followed up for 12 months. Carotid ultrasound was performed at baseline and follow-up to evaluate plaque characteristics. Plaque regression was defined as meeting any of the following criteria: (1) reduction in plaque area ≥ 5%, (2) decrease in plaque thickness ≥ 0.4 mm, or (3) reduction in plaque number, as assessed by vascular ultrasound imaging. Plaque echogenicity was classified into three types: hypoechoic, hyperechoic, and mixed echogenicity. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to assess the association between plaque echogenicity and plaque regression, adjusting for potential confounding factors.

resultsHypoechoic plaques showed higher rates of regression (72.8%) compared to hyperechoic (37.7%) and mixed echogenicity plaques (50.0%) (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding variables, hypoechoic plaques exhibited greater odds of regression compared to hyperechoic plaques (adjusted HR = 4.52, 95% CI: 3.18-6.43, p < 0.001). Additionally, the median percentage reduction in plaque size was more pronounced in hypoechoic plaques, (15.2%, IQR: 7.7-22.3%) compared with other echogenicities (p < 0.001).

conclusionCarotid plaque echogenicity is strongly associated with the likelihood plaque regression, with hypoechoic plaques exhibiting higher regression rates and greater reductions in plaque size. These findings may help guide personalized treatment strategies and improve risk assessment.

Indexed as

AtherosclerosisCarotid ultrasoundEchogenicityPlaque regression

Identifiers

PMID40533742
PMCPMC12175450

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.