Soon after treatment onset, high-dose Lipitor cuts inflammation in carotid plaques and reduces the incidence potentially dangerous cerebral microemboli, say scientists from Cambridge University.

Their study also provides early validation of a new method for detecting inflammation in such plaques. This could prove to be a boon for those who study atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries, a risk factor for stroke.

Jonathan Gillard and colleagues test-drove ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles as the contrast agent in their MRI-based study.

The particles are ingested by macrophages, a major constituent of inflamed plaques which often cause strokes.

Heretofore, the only noninvasive means to detect vessel inflammation had been fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, but radiation exposure associated with repeated PET scanning limits its use in studies requiring repeat scans to assess disease progress.

In the study, Gillard’s team randomized 47 high-risk plaque-afflicted patients to receive either 10- or 80-mg of Lipitor once per day for 12 weeks.

MRIs performed at 6 weeks revealed a marked reduction in macrophage activity, but only in the group randomized to receive 80 mg of Lipitor. MRIs at 12 weeks showed continued improvement, but again only in the high-dose group.

In these patients, cerebral microemboli counts, as measured by transcranial Doppler, fell 91% compared with baseline.

The write-up appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

“Our study may support the hypothesis that dampening of plaque inflammation rather than morphological regression (may be responsible for the) the early beneficial effects of statins seen in clinical practice,” wrote the scientists.

Still, it’s too early to pop the corks, at least for the new imaging technique. The contrast agent may promote oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the plaque which might cause it to destabilize and rupture.

Over 185 million Americans live under skies so polluted it endangers life, according to a report released last week by the American Lung Association.

The report grades 900 US counties on an A to F scale for ozone (smog), annual particle pollution, and 24-hour particle pollution.

Cities ranking in the top 3 on ozone pollution were the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside metropolitan area, Bakersfield and Visalia-Porterville.

The three cities also top the charts for year-round particle pollution, and follow just behind Pittsburgh-New Castle at the top of the list on 24-hour particle pollution.

Fargo, North Dakota came up cleanest in all categories.

“60% of Americans are breathing air dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids’ lungs develop, and to kill,” said ALA Chairman Stephen Nolan.

The ALA report indicates that 175 million Americans live in areas where there is a dangerous abundance of days in which unhealthy ozone levels are present. Ozone irritates the lungs like a bad sunburn. It triggers asthma and shortens life expectancy.

Particle pollution is the “most dangerous and deadly of the outdoor air pollutants,” according to the ALA, because it “can increase the risk of early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits for asthma and cardiovascular disease.”

One in 6 Americans lives in an area having unhealthy level of year-round fine particle pollution, and 30% reside in counties with unhealthy 24-hour levels, in which atmospheric fine particle concentrations spike to unhealthy levels for hours or even days.

“Air pollution can impair the lung function of even the healthiest people,” said Norman Edelman, the ALAs Chief Medical Officer, but “people with lung and heart disease (are) especially vulnerable,” he added.