Abstract
Ten trials, employing twelve different interventions by diets, drugs or surgery, have assessed the effects of lipid lowering on the course of coronary atherosclerosis. The outcomes are consistent in showing favourable effects on serial angiography; all revealed a reduced incidence of progression and most showed increased regression. In many, these angiographic changes were accompanied by reduced incidence of clinical coronary events. Underlying mechanisms may include anatomical regression of lesions, stabilization of plaques against fissuring and thrombotic occlusion, and restoration of impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. The trials support the lipid hypothesis of atherosclerosis and affirm the value of the treatments studied.
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Lewis, B. (1993). Clinical Trials of Atherosclerosis Regression. In: Catapano, A.L., Gotto, A.M., Smith, L.C., Paoletti, R. (eds) Drugs Affecting Lipid Metabolism. Medical Science Symposia Series, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1703-6_30
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1703-6_30
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