title: Inflammatory markers in coronary artery disease.
abstract: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common manifestations of atherosclerosis. Inflammation is considered one of the major processes that contribute to atherogenesis. Inflammation plays an important role not only on the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis but also on plaque rupture, an event that leads to acute vascular events. Various biomarkers express different pathways and pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory biomarkers express different parts of the atherogenic process, regarding the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis or the destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, inflammatory biomarkers may prove to be useful in the detection, staging, and prognosis of patients with CAD. Furthermore, the fact that inflammatory processes are essential steps in the course of the disease offers future therapeutic targets for the interruption of the atherogenic process or for the management of acute events.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Cardiology Department, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece. ignoik@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Ignatios
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikonomidis
authors.forename: Christos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Michalakeas
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paraskevaidis
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ntai
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anastasiou-Nana
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekakis
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase