Konishi T, et al. - Given human and animal studies have revealed a stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques by statins, researchers examined the link between statin therapy and plaque stability in carotid endarterectomy (CEA) specimens taken from 79 consecutive patients presenting with > 70% carotid artery stenoses, of whom 66 were untreated (group 1) and 13 treated (group 2) with a statin. Immunohistochemistry was used. Group 2 vs group 1 was found to have a significantly lower prevalence of plaque ruptures, lumen thrombi, inflammatory cells, intraplaque hemorrhages and intraplaque microvessels. Overall, statin therapy showed efficacy in mitigating the plaque instability, which, in patients presenting with strokes, might decrease infarct volume.