Novel pathogenic insights in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Epidemiologic studies clearly demonstrate that cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality in most countries, and a rise in CVD mortality rates in the developing countries for the next 25 years is expected. We provide a coherent path depicting the natural evolution of primary prevention paradigm from in utero fetal development to elderly, in which all preventive strategies to reduce CVD are applied. The efficiency of nitric oxide bioavailability and the reduction of vascular inflammation are relevant in the development of CVD. Established pharmacologic agents have improved the prognosis of CVD, but several new strategies to reduce the long-term risk of CVD are needed. Stem cell therapy strategies have been evaluated for the treatment of CVD. Bone marrow and endothelial progenitor cells have been most extensively studied, suggesting that this approach may have beneficial effects on cardiac function.
Department of General Pathology, Clinical Pathology and Excellence Research Center on Cardiovascular Diseases, 1st School of Medicine, II University of Naples, Complesso S. Andrea delle Dame Via Costantinopoli 16, Naples, Italy. claunap@tin.it
Claudio
C
Napoli
Francesco
F
Cacciatore
D017668:Age of Onset; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018450:Disease Progression; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011379:Prognosis; D012107:Research Design; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002097:C-Reactive Protein