A compound that is a Syk kinase inhibitor for use in a method of treating atherosclerosis or regression or decreased formation of arterial atherosclerotic lesions, said method comprising administering to an mammal having atherosclerosis an effective amount of the compound that it has the formula I: ** Formula ** in which: R2 is selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups, C3-8 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups, 3-8 membered cycloheteroalkyl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups, C5-15 aryl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups, and heteroaryl of 5-15 members optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups； R4 is ** Formula ** R5 is selected from the group consisting of R6 and C1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups； each R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, -ORd, -SRd, C1-3 haloalkyloxy, C1-3 perhaloalkyloxy, -NRcRc, halogen, C1-3 haloalkyl, C1-3 perhaloalkyl, -CN, -NC, - OCN, -SCN, -NO, -NO2, - N3, -S (O) Rd, -S (O) 2Rd, -S (O) 2ORd, -S (O) NRcRc； -S (O) 2NRcRc, -OS (O) Rd, -OS (O) 2Rc, -OS (O) 2ORd, -OS (O) NRcRc, -OS (O) 2NRcRc, -C (O) Rd, - C (O) ORd, -C (O) NRcRc -C (NH) NRcRc, -OC (O) Rd, -SC (O) Rd, -OC (O) ORd, -SC (O) ORd, - OC ( O) NRcRc, -SC (O) NRcRc, -OC (NH) NRcRc, -SC (NH) NRcRc, - [NHC (O)] nRd-, - [NHC (O)] nORd, - [NHC (O) ] nNRcRc and - [NHC (NH)] nNRcRc, C5-10 aryl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups, C6-16 arylalkyl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups, heteroaryl of 5-10 members optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups and 6-16 heteroarylalkyl optionally substituted with one or more of the same or different R8 groups； R8 is selecte
