Non-traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis

During the last 10 years, several "non-traditional" risk markers for atherosclerosis have been identified. Among them, new markers of lipoprotein metabolism (i.e. lipoprotein [a]), endothelial dysfunction (i.e. homocysteine), hemostasis (i.e. fibrinogen) and inflammation (i.e. C-reactive protein) have been linked to an excessive risk of cardiovascular disease. These factors should help the clinician to better identify individuals at risk of premature atherosclerotic disease and/or improve the predictive value of established risk factors for atherosclerosis. Finally, these factors are expected to improve the knowledge in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, and perhaps to impact future therapeutic decisions. In this review article, we will analyze the markers in which there are at least some evidence to support their acceptance as "non-traditional risk factors" for atherosclerotic disease.