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[Inflammation in atherosclerosis]
1Servicio de Consulta Externa Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, INCICH, Juan Badiano No. 1-4 to Piso, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 México D.F. trevethan@cardiologia.org.mx
Insights
Traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis are well-established, but new inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein are emerging as key predictors of cardiovascular events. Controlling these factors is crucial for preventing atherosclerosis and improving patient care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Inflammation Research
- Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis
Context:
- Established risk factors for atherosclerosis include genetics, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and lifestyle.
- Recent research highlights novel risk factors, particularly in coronary and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis.
- The inflammatory process and its associated markers are increasingly recognized in disease development.
Purpose:
- To discuss the mechanisms by which novel inflammatory markers participate in the atherosclerotic process.
- To evaluate the predictive value of these markers for future coronary events.
- To assess the role of current therapeutics in mitigating these events and enhancing patient care.
Summary:
- Atherosclerosis is influenced by traditional factors (genetics, lifestyle) and emerging inflammatory markers.
- Key inflammatory markers include C-reactive protein, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and infection.
- These markers play a role in atherosclerotic lesion development and predict cardiovascular events.
Impact:
- Understanding novel risk factors can lead to improved diagnostic and prognostic tools for atherosclerosis.
- Targeting inflammatory pathways may offer new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention.
- Enhanced patient care through better risk stratification and tailored treatment approaches for atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
Traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis are well known and their control decreases importantly the appearance of the disease. These factors are the genetic charge, dyslipidemia, smoking, systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, gender, age, stress, estrogen levels in women, and life style. However, in the last decade, new risk factors have been identified especially for coronary and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Among these factors, the inflammatory process has been pointed out in which acute stage reactants participate, such as C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, globular sedimentation, multiple cytokines, alpha tumor necrosis factor, vascular and cellular adhesion molecules, some metalloproteinases, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, angiotensin II, and very probably infection. This article discusses the mechanism by which these markers participate in the atherosclerotic process and their value as predictors of future coronary events, as well as to what extent current therapeutics can contribute to decrease these events and to improve patient care.