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.

Annals of African Medicine
|February 16, 2025
PubMed

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.

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