Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Atherosclerosis
Peter Libby1, Julie E Buring2, Lina Badimon3
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. plibby@bwh.harvard.edu.
Insights
Atherosclerosis, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes, involves artery wall lesions. Research advances diagnostics and therapies, improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine
- Immunology of Atherosclerosis
Background:
- Atherosclerosis, characterized by fibrofatty lesions in artery walls, is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality.
- Key risk factors include low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, inflammation, and clonal hematopoiesis.
- Understanding the cell and molecular biology of atherogenesis is crucial for linking risk factors to disease manifestations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the current understanding of atherosclerosis, its risk factors, and management.
- To highlight advancements in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease.
- To emphasize the ongoing challenges and future directions in combating atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on atherosclerosis, atherogenesis, and cardiovascular disease.
- Discussion of various diagnostic modalities, including invasive and noninvasive techniques.
- Analysis of current therapeutic approaches and challenges in treatment adherence and access.
Main Results:
- Atherosclerotic lesion development is linked to multiple risk factors, including lipoproteins, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, inflammation, and clonal hematopoiesis.
- A wide range of diagnostic tools are available for assessing cardiovascular disease risk.
- Effective therapies exist to modify risk factors and improve clinical outcomes, though access and adherence remain challenges.
Conclusions:
- Continued research and knowledge acceleration are vital for further progress in preventing and treating atherosclerosis.
- Clinical application of research findings has improved preventive strategies, patient outcomes, and quality of life.
- Addressing challenges in equitable access to care and treatment adherence is essential for maximizing the benefits of current and future therapies.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis, the formation of fibrofatty lesions in the artery wall, causes much morbidity and mortality worldwide, including most myocardial infarctions and many strokes, as well as disabling peripheral artery disease. Development of atherosclerotic lesions probably requires low-density lipoprotein, a particle that carries cholesterol through the blood. Other risk factors for atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications include hypertension, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus. Increasing evidence also points to a role of the immune system, as emerging risk factors include inflammation and clonal haematopoiesis. Studies of the cell and molecular biology of atherogenesis have provided considerable insight into the mechanisms that link all these risk factors to atheroma development and the clinical manifestations of this disease. An array of diagnostic techniques, both invasive (such as selective coronary arteriography) and noninvasive (such as blood biomarkers, stress testing, CT and nuclear scanning), permit assessment of cardiovascular disease risk and targeting of therapies. An expanding armamentarium of therapies that can modify risk factors and confer clinical benefit is available; however, we face considerable challenge in providing equitable access to these treatments and in maximizing adherence. Yet, the clinical application of the fruits of research has advanced preventive strategies, enhanced clinical outcomes in affected individuals, and improved their quality of life. Rapidly accelerating knowledge and continued research promise to provide further progress in combating this common chronic disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
01:23Atherosclerosis IV: Nursing Management