Aggressive versus moderate lipid-lowering therapy in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia: Rationale and design of the Beyond Endorsed Lipid Lowering with EBT Scanning (BELLES) trial

American Heart Journal
Paolo RaggiR Scott

Abstract

Electron beam tomography (EBT) is a noninvasive technique that allows the study of the entire coronary artery tree during a brief imaging session without the injection of any contrast media. Atherosclerosis is identified vicariously through the visualization of coronary calcific deposits. Quantitative assessments of calcium burden, such as calcium volume scores, have been shown to be a useful means to assess treatment-related changes in the extent of atherosclerotic plaques. Historically, the elderly female population has received less medical recognition regarding the risk and severity of coronary heart disease (CHD). In the BELLES (Beyond Endorsed Lipid Lowering with EBT Scanning) trial, the presence of asymptomatic CHD in 600 postmenopausal women will be assessed by EBT. In this 1-year, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study, aggressive lipid-lowering treatment will be compared with moderate lipid-lowering treatment in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. The hypothesis we will test is that aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with 80 mg/d atorvastatin can produce greater reductions in atherosclerotic plaque burden as assessed by volumetric calcium scores than a moderate treatment with 40 mg/d pr...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 7, 2002·The American Journal of Cardiology·Holger P Salazar, Paolo Raggi
Nov 8, 2003·Preventive Cardiology·Paolo Raggi
Jun 20, 2008·International Journal of Clinical Practice·A S Wierzbicki
Oct 4, 2005·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Valentin FusterJuan J Badimon
Jun 12, 2003·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Daniel B MarkPaul Heidenreich
May 31, 2015·International Journal of Cardiology·Mohamed Al-RawahiGeorge Thanassoulis
Aug 11, 2004·International Journal of Cardiology·Diederick E Grobbee, Michiel L Bots
Oct 1, 2013·Atherosclerosis·Hae-Young LeeKwang Kon Koh
Sep 27, 2005·Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy·Harold BaysMichael Davidson
Jul 10, 2004·Menopause : the Journal of the North American Menopause Society·Francine K Welty
Aug 17, 2004·Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics·Matthew J Budoff
Dec 10, 2003·Current Atherosclerosis Reports·Douglas S JacobyDaniel J Rader
Mar 17, 2004·Current Atherosclerosis Reports·Paolo Raggi, George James
Jun 14, 2005·Cardiology in Review·Khurram NasirRoger S Blumenthal
Nov 8, 2002·Drugs·Mohammed H Moghadasian
Sep 10, 2002·Investigative Radiology·Andreas H MahnkenRolf W Gunther

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