Cholesterol-lowering and vascular reactivity in relation to coronary heart disease.
Despite the strong evidence that cholesterol-lowering treatment is effective in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, there is a great discrepancy between the results relating to prognosis and the ability of this treatment to induce regression of coronary atheromatous plaques. Since hypercholesterolemia causes a dysfunction in vascular reactivity, improvement can also be ascribed to restoration of vascular relaxation capacity. This conclusion is supported by a wealth of clinical and experimental evidence.
de Divitiis
M
M
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
Rubba
P
P
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D011379:Prognosis
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents