Current Atherosclerosis Reports

, Volume 6, Issue 2, pp 131–139 | Cite as

Inflammation and atherosclerosis

  • Mehdi H. Shishehbor
  • Deepak L. Bhatt
Article

Abstract

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in all stages of atherogenesis, from foam cell to plaque formation to rupture and ultimately to thrombosis. Insight gained from recent basic and clinical data linking inflammation to atherosclerosis has yielded important diagnostic and prognostic information. Low-grade chronic inflammation as measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts future risk of acute coronary syndrome independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, individuals with higher “inflammatory burden” gain the largest absolute risk reduction with aggressive risk-lowering therapy. The link between inflammation and atherosclerosis provides a new venue for future pharmacologic agents that may slow the progression of atherosclerosis by inhibiting inflammation.

Keywords

Atherosclerosis Acute Coronary Syndrome Clopidogrel Atherosclerotic Plaque Plaque Rupture 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Current Science Inc 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  • Mehdi H. Shishehbor
    • 1
  • Deepak L. Bhatt
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Cardiovascular MedicineCleveland Clinic FoundationClevelandUSA

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