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[The treatment and outlook of atherosclerosis today]
1Istituto di Scienze Farmacologiche, Università degli Studi, Milano.
Insights
A comprehensive strategy combining risk evaluation, advanced imaging, and circulating markers improves cardiovascular disease prevention. Statins offer added value in lipid disorders and event prevention, enhancing longevity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Medical Technology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Atherosclerosis therapy and cardiovascular disease prevention require comprehensive strategies.
- Large population studies have led to improved individual risk evaluation algorithms.
- Noninvasive imaging techniques enable precise monitoring of lesion evolution.
Purpose:
- To outline a comprehensive strategy for atherosclerosis therapy and cardiovascular disease prevention.
- To highlight advancements in risk evaluation and monitoring.
- To emphasize the role of pharmacological interventions.
Summary:
- Improved risk assessment algorithms and noninvasive imaging (B-mode ultrasound, MRI) enhance patient-specific therapeutic approaches.
- Ongoing research on circulating atherosclerosis markers refines cardiovascular risk prediction.
- Statins and potentially fibrates demonstrate pleiotropic effects, adding value to lipid disorder treatment and cardiovascular event prevention.
Impact:
- Integration of these approaches promises a qualitative improvement in human longevity.
- Enhanced understanding of atherosclerosis and its markers will lead to better preventative strategies.
- Personalized medicine in cardiovascular disease management will become more effective.
Abstract:
Nowadays, the success of atherosclerosis therapy and the efficacy of cardiovascular disease prevention can rely on a comprehensive strategy. New algorithms derived from large population studies have improved the risk evaluation for the single individual and, consequently, the therapeutic approach can be better adapted to the specific needs of the patient. Improvements of noninvasive techniques, such as B-mode ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, allow for the reproducible and precise monitoring of lesion evolution that can be easily applied to large population samples. Ongoing studies regarding the relationship between circulating markers of atherosclerosis and the occurrence of cardiovascular events will improve our assessment of impending risk. Finally, the presence of pleiotropic effects of statins in vivo (and, perhaps, of fibrates as well) underscores the added value of this class of drugs in the treatment of lipid disorders and in the prevention of cardiovascular events. Prospectively, the integration of all these approaches will have a desirable impact on the qualitative improvement of human longevity.