title: Gender-Related Differences in Atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Considerable research has been done over the last several decades to understand the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. It is widely believed that estrogen is responsible for the protection of women from CVD in the premenopausal age group. However, hormone replacement therapy has failed to decrease CVD events in clinical studies which points to the complexity of the relationship between vascular biology and estrogen hormones. Interestingly, preponderance of vascular and connective tissue disorders in women also points to an inherent role of hormones and tissue factors in maintenance of vascular endothelial function. The differential effect of GPER, lipoprotein A, TLRs, leucocyte-platelet aggregate markers in men and women also suggests inherent gender-related differences in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. A better understanding of the pathophysiology is likely to open ways to improve evidence-based treatment of CVD in women.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 4301 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA, PMathur@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Bohuslav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ostadal
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Jawahar L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled