[Atherosclerosis: from etiology to its possible influencing]

Atherosclerosis as an inflammatory process affecting vessel wall has more forms usually occurring together. Classical atherosclerotic vascular lesion characterised by lipid accumulation in the subendothelial space is frequently accompanied by changes in deeper layers of arterial wall, in which increased extracellular tissue mass and smooth muscle cells activation represent the most prominent feature. Due to a specific constellation of risk factors the first or second pathology may be more expressed. While initiation and progression of classical atherosclerosis are mostly driven by lipoproteins (especially of LDL class) the most important factor of arterial media changes seem to be different risk factors e.g. hyperactivity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS). Influencing these two basic pathogenic mechanisms undoubtedly slows down the course of vascular changes and impacts positively on the prognosis of the patients. It is noteworthy, that simultaneous targeting of both of these mechanisms yields synergistic effects as evidenced both by experimental and clinical works. Using the opportunities offered by intensive lowering of atherogenic plasma lipids and over activation of the RAS system reduce not only the incidence of typical atherotromobotic complications (e.g. acute coronary syndrome) but also the events caused by changes of medial part of arterial wall or left myocardial ventricle (malignant arrhythmia, heart failure). These two strategies represent necessary conditions for successful cardiovascular prevention.