title: [Hyperinsulinemia and cardiovascular risk].
abstract: A large body of evidence has been accumulating that insulin plays a role in coronary heart disease (CHD). Hyperinsulinemia has been considered a risk factor for CHD according to prospective studies. Cross-sectional studies found an association between hyperinsulinemia and prevalence of CHD, while population studies have shown that populations at increased risk for CHD are hyperinsulinemic. Strong relations between hyperinsulinemia and atherosclerotic coronary lesions have been demonstrated by angiographic studies. It has recently been observed that also patients with microvascular angina are hyperinsulinemic. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the role of hyperinsulinemia in the development of atherothrombosis. Hyperinsulinemia is the consequence of insulin resistance, a defect in insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Experimental evidence suggests that insulin has actions that may promote atherosclerosis, which clinical studies suggest the existence of a metabolic syndrome characterized by the presence of major coronary risk factors in which insulin resistance is the common link.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi, Genova.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spallarossa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cordera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caponnetto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Iperinsulinemia e rischio cardiovascolare.