Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
Published on: February 20, 2019
Recent Advances and Perspectives of Atherosclerotic Occlusive Disease
Hani Raka Karrar1,2, Mahmoud Ismail Nouh1,3, Amnah Alhassan Alnami4
1Department of Pharmaceutical, Dr. Samir Abbas Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of death, involves plaque buildup in arteries. Management focuses on lifestyle changes, medical care, and increasingly, endovascular therapy for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death and disability globally, particularly in developed nations.
- Acute vascular events like stroke and heart attacks often result from atherosclerotic plaque rupture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of atherosclerosis.
- To discuss risk factors, epidemiology, diagnostic methods, and management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on atherosclerosis.
- Analysis of diagnostic approaches including blood tests, cardiograms, and stress tests.
- Examination of management strategies including lifestyle changes, medical care, and endovascular therapy.
Main Results:
- Atherosclerotic plaque progression involves lipid accumulation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and angiogenesis.
- Incidence and mortality from ischemic heart disease and stroke have decreased in high-income countries since the mid-20th century.
- Endovascular therapy offers a less invasive option with lower morbidity and mortality compared to traditional surgery.
Conclusions:
- Atherosclerosis requires a multi-faceted management approach.
- Lifestyle modifications and medical interventions remain crucial.
- Endovascular therapy presents a promising advancement in treating atherosclerotic diseases.
Abstract:
Atherosclerotic occlusive disease in developed nations, the primary causes of death and disability are atherosclerotic diseases, such as stroke and acute coronary syndromes. The most common acute vascular events are brought on by the rupture or erosion of hemodynamically insignificant atherosclerotic plaques. The most frequent cause of both carotid and coronary steno-occlusive disease is atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic plaque starts progressing when the foam cells break down and release lipids into the extracellular space when the stimulus for atherogenesis is intensified. Thus, creating a lipid pool that is primarily acellular. At the same time, activated smooth muscle cells go into the intimal layer and multiply, dramatically improving their capacity to make collagen and maintain the fibrous cap. As the plaque thickens, its deeper layers may become hypoxic, causing angiogenesis and microvessel multiplication from the adventitial vasa vasorum. Since the middle of the 20 th century, there have been significant drops in the incidence and mortality from ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke in high-income countries. Blood tests are typically performed to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels and are used as diagnostic tests for atherosclerosis. Cardiograms and exercise stress tests are also used for diagnosis. Risk factors of atherosclerosis include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, obesity, diet, sedentary lifestyle, and high total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The cornerstones of managing atherosclerotic are still medical care and lifestyle changes. A growing number of atherosclerotic types can benefit greatly from endovascular therapy. When compared to normal surgical procedures, it is linked with much lower morbidity and mortality, as well as a quicker recovery time. This article aims to provide a brief introduction, risk factors, epidemiology, diagnostic tests, prevention, and good practice management advice for atherosclerosis.
Related Concept Videos
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
Overview of Systemic Arteries
Systemic circulation is the part of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues and returns deoxygenated blood back to the...
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...

