Newer risk markers and surrogate endpoints in atherosclerosis management

Risk markers that allow improved and individualized assessment of atherosclerotic disease risk and response to treatment are needed. Current candidate markers include cell adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin, and inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein; advances in genomics and proteomics will suggest additional candidate markers. Noninvasive imaging procedures such as electron-beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging also show considerable promise for monitoring disease status and response to treatment, and ultimately could provide surrogate endpoints for clinical trials of therapeutic interventions.