Objective     To determine the effect of ezetimibe on lipid metabolism and carotid plaque in the patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods     A total of 96 confirmed CHD patients (68 males and 28 females) admitted in our department from September 2013 to September 2014 were subjected in this study. They were randomly divided into the observation group (combined treatment with 10 mg/d ezetimibe and 10 mg/d rosuvastatin) and control group (only with 10 mg/d rosuvastatin). Standard secondary prevention and treatment for CHD were given to all the patients. The levels of total cholesterol (TC)

triglyceride (TG)

high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected before and in 6 to 12 months after treatment. The level of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)

Crouse score of carotid artery plaque and incident rate of adverse cardiovascular events were compared between the 2 groups before and after 1 year’s treatment. Results     ①After the treatment

the levels of TC

TG

LDL-C and hs-CRP were significantly lower in the 2 groups. Comparing with control group

the declines of TC

LDL-C and hs-CRP were more significant in the observation group (3.21±0.58 vs 3.72±0.80 mmol/L

1.87±0.43 vs 2.33±0.64 mmol/L

1.31±1.73 vs 2.27±2.69 mg/L

P0.05). ②The Crouse score of carotid artery plaque was significantly decreased after treatment in the observation group (3.2±1.2 vs 4.2±1.5 mm

P0.05)

better than the control group (3.2±1.2 vs 3.8±1.4 mm

P0.05). No difference was seen in the score in the control group before and after treatment (P0.05). ③The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events was 2.1% for unstable angina pectoris (1 case) and 4.2% for stable angina pectoris (2 cases) in the observation group

and the total incidence of the events was remarkably lower in the observation group than the control group (6.3% vs 22.8%

P0.05). Conclusion     Ezetimibe combined with rosuvastatin can improve the levels of lipids and inflammation factors

slow even recover the progress of carotid atherosclerosis and reduce the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in the CHD patients.