OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of Zhibitai capsule for intensive lipid-lowering on carotid plaque and serum inflammatory factor in patients with recovery phase of cerebral infarction complicated with carotid plaque.METHODS: 124 patients with recovery phase of cerebral infarction complicated with carotid plaque admitted into the Seventh People’s Hospital of Hebei Province from Jun. 2018 to Jun. 2019 were selected and divided into observation group and control group via random number table. The control group（ 62 cases） was given conventional therapy combined with low-dose atorvastatin

while the observation group（ 62 cases） was treated with Zhibitai capsule for intensive lipid-lowering based on the control group

both groups were given 3 courses of treatment（ every 8 weeks for 1 course）. Differences in serum inflammatory factor

blood lipid indicators

carotid intima-media thickness（ IMT）

maximum plaque area

blood flow velocity

indicators of hepatic and renal function

and traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） syndrome scores between two groups before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: After treatment

the serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and matrix metalloproteinases-9 levels of observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group; the serum total cholesterol

triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterin levels of observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group

while the high density lipoprotein cholesterin level was significantly higher; the carotid IMT and maximum plaque area of observation group were significantly less than those of the control group

while the blood flow velocity was significantly faster than that of the control group

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. There was no statistical significance in differences in alanine aminotransferase

serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of both groups between before and after treatment（ P >0. 05）. After treatment

the TCM syndrome scores of observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group

with statistically significant difference（ P<0. 05）. CONCLUSIONS:Zhibitai capsule for intensive lipid-lowering can effectively reduce serum inflammatory factor levels in patients with recovery phase of cerebral infarction complicated with carotid plaque

which can regulate blood lipid

reduce carotid atheromatous plaque and improve symptoms

without causing hepatic and renal injury

safe and reliable.