The assessment of brachial-artery FMD is a reliable, reproducible and noninvasive tool for evaluating endothelial dysfunction, which, together with endothelial inflammation, causes carotid atherosclerosis. Atorvastatin therapy can reverse endothelial dysfunction after 4 months, and may have significant anti-inflammatory effects if continued for more than 4 months. Importantly, statin therapy can be used to treat carotid atherosclerosis.