© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Brief Reviews |
Does Therapeutic Intervention Achieve Slowing of Progression or Bona Fide Regression of Atherosclerotic Lesions?
From the Lipid Research Laboratory, Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Correspondence to Y. Stein, MD, Lipid Research Laboratory, Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, POB 12220, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. E-mail ystein{at}hadassah.org.il
Abstract—This review focuses on the regression of atherosclerosis in humans and experimental animals. It highlights the difficulties to determine unequivocally whether with a given therapeutic intervention, such as diet, drugs, or apheresis, the progression of lesions was curtailed or bona fide regression of atherosclerotic lesions was achieved. It seems appropriate to mention that 2 very different ways to measure regression were used in experimental animals and in humans. Regression in animals was determined mainly in the aorta or coronary arteries isolated at post mortem, and the criteria used were degree of sudanophilia and/or aortic wall thickness and cellular composition or cholesterol content. In humans, the evaluation of regression relied mainly on quantitative coronary angiography. The literature of the past decade is reviewed selectively but not exhaustively, and in some instances, a brief historical overview is given.
Key Words: atherosclerosis • prevention of CAD • fatty streaks • complex lesion • gene therapy
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  K. Prasad Flax Lignan Complex Slows Down the Progression of Atherosclerosis in Hyperlipidemic Rabbits Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, March 1, 2009; 14(1): 38 - 48. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Prasad A Study on Regression of Hypercholesterolemic Atherosclerosis in Rabbits by Flax Lignan Complex Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, December 1, 2007; 12(4): 304 - 313. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Verna, C. Ganda, and M. B. Stemerman In Vivo Low-Density Lipoprotein Exposure Induces Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Correlated With Activator Protein-1 Expression Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 2006; 26(6): 1344 - 1349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Verschuren, R. Kleemann, E. H. Offerman, A. J. Szalai, S. J. Emeis, H. M. G. Princen, and T. Kooistra Effect of Low Dose Atorvastatin Versus Diet-Induced Cholesterol Lowering on Atherosclerotic Lesion Progression and Inflammation in Apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden Transgenic Mice Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, January 1, 2005; 25(1): 161 - 167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Levin, E. D. Bischoff, C. L. Daige, D. Thomas, C. T. Vu, R. A. Heyman, R. K. Tangirala, and I. G. Schulman Macrophage Liver X Receptor Is Required for Antiatherogenic Activity of LXR Agonists Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, January 1, 2005; 25(1): 135 - 142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. P. Choudhury, V. Fuster, J. J. Badimon, E. A. Fisher, and Z. A. Fayad MRI and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Plaque: Emerging Applications and Molecular Imaging Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, July 1, 2002; 22(7): 1065 - 1074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. X. Rong, J. Li, E. D. Reis, R. P. Choudhury, H. M. Dansky, V. I. Elmalem, J. T. Fallon, J. L. Breslow, and E. A. Fisher Elevating High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice Remodels Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions by Decreasing Macrophage and Increasing Smooth Muscle Cell Content Circulation, November 13, 2001; 104(20): 2447 - 2452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. Palinski, F. P. D'Armiento, J. L. Witztum, F. de Nigris, F. Casanada, M. Condorelli, M. Silvestre, and C. Napoli Maternal Hypercholesterolemia and Treatment During Pregnancy Influence the Long-Term Progression of Atherosclerosis in Offspring of Rabbits Circ. Res., November 23, 2001; 89(11): 991 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|