Prediction of angiographic stabilization/regression of coronary atherosclerosis by a risk factor graph.
BACKGROUND
The only reason for treating dyslipidaemia is the prevention and/or stabilization of atherosclerosis. Angiographic stabilization/reversal of coronary atherosclerosis predicts a decrease in future atherosclerotic disease manifestations.


METHODS
This paper reports on an analysis of eight angiographic trials that use therapy of dyslipidaemia in order to stabilize/reverse coronary atherosclerosis. The analysis involved plotting trial lipid and blood pressure end-points on a risk factor graph which contained a threshold line in order to determine whether bringing trial end-points below that threshold line predicted angiographic stabilization/regression of coronary atherosclerosis.


RESULTS
In fact, the angiograms for those patients whose lipid-blood pressure plots were brought below the threshold line exhibited stabilization/regression of coronary atherosclerosis in 75% of cases. It is suggested that the goal of dyslipidaemic therapy should be to bring patient lipid-blood pressure plots below the threshold line so as to stabilize/reverse extant coronary atherosclerosis, apparent or inapparent, in the majority of dyslipidaemic patients.
Feeman
W E
WE
Herzzentrum Leipzig GmbH, Russenstrasse 19-04289 Leipzig, Germany. BGS43402@yahoo.com
Niebauer
J
J
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male