Secondary prevention of atherosclerosis
Jiménez-Alonso, J.
Ars Pharm.36;(4);483-492, (1995)
Key words: Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular risk factors, Hyperlipidemia, Cigarette smoking, HypertensionAbstract
Atherosclerosis is responsible for the majority of deaths in the developped countries. This disorder is the underlying cause of heart attacks,strokes and peripheral vascular disease. Although the etiology is unknown, progress has been made in identifying the risk factors that predispose to it. Thus, a number of conditions are more frequent in the atherosclerotic patients: hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and cigarette smoking are the most potent, but another conditions has been implicated, such as age, male gender, family or personal history of cardiovascular disease, low HDL-Cholesterol, high lipoprotein (a), diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, left ventricular hypertrophia, abdominal obesity, physical anactivity, alcoholism, stress-type of personality, high fibrinogen levels, postmenopausic woman, use of oral contraceptiv or microalbuminaria. The regression or interruption of progression of atherosclerotic lesions can be acomplished in humans, as has been demonstrated in an important number of studies.
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