Atherosclerotic Plaque Regression: Fact or Fiction?

Coronary artery disease is the major cause of death in the western world. The formation and rapid progression of atheromatous plaques can lead to serious cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerosis. The better understanding, in recent years, of the mechanisms leading to atheromatous plaqu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cardiovascular drugs and therapy 2010-08, Vol.24 (4), p.311-317
Main Authors: Shanmugam, Nesan, Román-Rego, Ana, Ong, Peter, Kaski, Juan Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Coronary Syndrome - etiology
Acute Coronary Syndrome - physiopathology
Acute Coronary Syndrome - prevention & control
Arteries - diagnostic imaging
Arteries - pathology
Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research)
Atherosclerosis - complications
Atherosclerosis - drug therapy
Atherosclerosis - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Cardiology
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular system
Clinical Trials as Topic
Coronary Artery Disease - complications
Coronary Artery Disease - drug therapy
Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology
Disease Progression
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - administration & dosage
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - adverse effects
Lipoproteins, LDL - blood
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diagnostic imaging
Plaque, Atherosclerotic - metabolism
Plaque, Atherosclerotic - pathology
Treatment Outcome
Ultrasonography, Interventional
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Coronary artery disease is the major cause of death in the western world. The formation and rapid progression of atheromatous plaques can lead to serious cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerosis. The better understanding, in recent years, of the mechanisms leading to atheromatous plaque growth and disruption and the availability of powerful HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors (statins) has permitted the consideration of plaque regression as a realistic therapeutic goal. This article reviews the existing evidence underpinning current therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving atherosclerotic plaque regression. In this review we also discuss imaging modalities for the assessment of plaque regression, predictors of regression and whether plaque regression is associated with a survival benefit.
ISSN:0920-3206
1573-7241
DOI:10.1007/s10557-010-6241-0