Regression of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a complex disorder that leads to premature death and hospitalization. Several drugs have been, or are currently being tested for their ability to reduce cardiovascular mortality and/or promote regression of atherosclerotic lesions. In addition to "hard end point" clinical trials in which total and cardiovascular mortality as well as risk of incident myocardial infarction are considered as outcomes, trials with surrogate end points using imaging biomarkers can rapidly assess the efficacy of new cardiovascular drugs. Low-density lipoprotein-based therapies with statins have been shown to promote atherosclerosis regression, and several other drugs targeting high-density lipoproteins or inflammation/oxidation are currently being tested in both outcomes and imaging trials in which atherosclerosis regression is anticipated. In this review, we focus on the latest progress in CVD and highlight novel drugs that tackle atherosclerosis as well as the currently used and upcoming imaging techniques to optimally measure atherosclerosis progression.
Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, 5000 Belanger Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Benoit J
BJ
Arsenault
Ekaterini A
EA
Kritikou
Jean-Claude
JC
Tardif
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C506642:CETP protein, human; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D035683:MicroRNAs