The role of atherosclerotic plaque imaging techniques in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease remains to be determined. Perhaps the most promising technique at the moment is coronary CT, which has a high sensitivity for the detection of atherosclerosis. However, the benefits of CT must be balanced against the risks of contrast and radiation exposure. […]
Tag: atherosclerosis
Impaired monocyte recruitment leads to plaque stabilisation
Recruitment of monocytes into atherosclerotic plaque has been shown to drive disease progression, and the presence of a higher number of macrophages has been associated with increased plaque vulnerability. Conversely, a reduction in plaque macrophage content has been associated with plaque stabilisation; however, it has not previously been described exactly how macrophages are removed from […]
Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis using MRI
Using invasive imaging techniques such as intra-vascular ultrasound, the burden of atherosclerotic plaque disease in any given individual has previously been shown to correlate with the likelihood of future cardivascular events . Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has the advantage of being non-invasive and, compared to other currently available molecular imaging modalities, it has good spatial […]
9p21 link to coronary disease clarified
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are examining the human genome in ever-greater depth in the hope of finding common variants that explain the heritability associated with common diseases such as coronary artery disease. Despite the ever increasing scale of these big-science ‘super-projects’ with literally tens of thousands of cases and controls, only a small proportion of […]
New genetic loci for MI and atherosclerosis found
Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several novel loci associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, however these represent only a small proportion of the inherited component of these disorders. Furthermore, it is not clear whether these loci contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, or whether they may influence the stability of atherosclerotic […]
Novel enzyme inhibitor shows promise for atherosclerosis inhibition
Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes are involved in the production of bioactive lipids that contribute to atherosclerosis. They are highly expressed in human and mouse atherosclerosis, and different groups of the enzyme contribute differently to atherosclerosis. A-002 (1-H-indole-3-glyoxamide, veraslpadib methyl, Anthera pharmaceuticals, CA) is a novel inhibitor of sPLA2 in humand with specificity towards sPLA2-I1A, […]
Lp-PLA2 Inhibiton Decreases Complex Plaque Development
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an enzyme that is produced by inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic lesions. It has previously been shown to be present at higher levels in the core of ruptured atherosclerotic plaques, although it was unclear whether this was merely an association or whether the enzyme played a key role in plaque vulnerability. […]
Genetic study suggests CRP not causal in atherosclerosis
Increased levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) are associated with an increased risk of ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular disease. But is CRP a causal factor in atherosclerosis development or merely a marker for ischaemic vascular disease? Evidence to suggest a role for CRP in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is predominantly from epidemiological studies. These have consistently […]