Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis And Microvascular Dysfunction

This book provides new perspectives on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Chapters cover atherosclerosis risk factors, the effect of growth and aging on vascular architecture, and the crucial role the microvasculature plays in atherosclerosis development. Microvascular dysfunction would explain why the well-known risk factors actually put individuals at higher risk. This pathomechanism would also hold true not only for obstructive atheroma formation but also for aneurysmal dilatation as well as for aortic and peripheral artery dissection. When seen through this lens, novel preventive and therapeutic opportunities can be envisioned. Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis and Microvascular Dysfunction proposes a single unifying mechanism of atherosclerosis development and describes potential preventative and therapeutic avenues based on this concept. It therefore represents a timely and valuable resource for internal medicine, cardiology, angiology cardiovascular surgeons, pathology clinicians, researchers, trainees, and students.

The circulatory system provides the tissues of the body with oxygen and nutrients for survival, allows for the dissemination of inflammatory cells, and clears metabolic waste from building up and damaging tissue. Atherosclerotic disease, the build-up of fat, inflammatory cells, and fibrotic tissue in the vessel wall, hinders this function, resulting in inadequate perfusion of the target tissue. Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, rapidly results in cellular dysfunction that profoundly affects the functionality of the overall tissue. Atherosclerosis-associated tissue ischemia and hypoxia because of loss of blood flow underlies several significant disease pathologies including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. In this eBook, we examine the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation both at the cellular level and the level of clinical presentation. Through this book, we hope to impart to the reader a better understanding of how vessel structure, environmental risk factors, and genetic predisposition contribute to atherosclerotic disease and how current and future therapies seek to circumvent the cellular processes contributing to plaque formation to reduce atherosclerotic plaque burden and clinical complications. Table of Contents: List of Videos / Introduction to Atherosclerosis / Epidemiology / Endothelial Cell Activation and Arterial Hemodynamics / Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease / Inflammation in Atherosclerosis / Smooth Muscle Cells and Plaque Vulnerability / Diagnosing Atherosclerotic Disease / Treatment and Prevention / Summary and Future Perspectives / References / Author Biographies

In the past two decades a number of studies have shown that abnormalities in the function and structure of coronary microcirculation can be detected in several cardiovascular diseases. On the basis of the clinical setting in which it occurs, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) can be classified into four types: CMD in the absence of any other cardiac disease; CMD in myocardial diseases; CMD in obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease; and iatrogenic CMD. In some instances CMD represents an epiphenomenon, whereas in others it represents an important marker of risk or may contribute to the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia, thus becoming a possible therapeutic target. This book provides an update on coronary physiology and a systematic assessment of microvascular abnormalities in cardiovascular diseases, in the hope that it will assist clinicians in prevention, detection and management of CMD in their everyday activity.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects medium and large-sized arteries. It begins after birth and the progression depends on several factors - traditional triad: hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus, then age, sex, smoking and sedentary life-style. At the beginning atherosclerosis is asymptomatic and we cannot estimate appropriately its frequency, but its complications - coronary artery diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, peripheral arterial diseases, which occur late, are responsible for more than half of the yearly mortality in the world. Unfortunately, sudden cardiac death may be the first clinical manifestation. The incipient event is endothelial dysfunction, as a result of injury, caused by high level of cholesterol [especially w-density-lipoprotein LDL], hyperglycemia, hypertension, smoking, infectious agents, and toxins. Endothelial cells overexpress adhesion molecules - vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1] and increases recruitment of inflammatory cells - monocytes [Mo], T-cells and subsequent release of monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 [MCP-1] that results in additional leucocytes recruitment. Injured endothelium allows migration of inflammatory cells that release cytokines and lipids into the intima. That leads to cytokine-mediated progression of atherosclerosis and oxidation of LDL. Macrophages [MP] take up oxi-LDL and form foam-cell. They have metabolic activity and produce cytokines, proliferation of smooth muscle cells and formulate athero-fibrose plaque. Atherosclerotic plaque is composed of superficial layer - fibrose cap and lipid core, that consists of foam cells, extracellular lipid and necrotic cellular debris. It progresses as a result of accumulation of lipid and proliferation of smooth muscle cells and results in luminal narrowing of the arteries which leads to compromised blood and oxygen supply to the tissues. The gradually growing atherosclerotic plaques have thick fibrose cap and are stable. They cause symptoms of stable angina. Rapidly growing plaques cause unstable coronary artery disease. These plaques are mainly composed of lipids and have tiny fibrose cap that is prone to fissuring or rupture. Intraplaque hemorrhage from microvessels in plaque initiate platelet adhesion and activation of coagulation cascade that leads to platelet thrombus formation, i.e. promote thrombogenesis. Knowledge of the pathogenesis of the atherothrombosis modifies the diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Conclusion: Attention should be focused on the management of three points: 1. Endothelial dysfunction [correction of modified risk factors: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, life-style-smoking, physical activity and food], 2. Atherosclerosis [modification of the inflammatory cascade, i.e. elimination of inflammatory pathways and inhibition of oxidation of LDL], 3. Thrombogenesis [inhibition of platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation].

Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic atherosclerosis, available traditional screening methods for early detection and treatment of asymptomatic coronary artery disease are grossly insufficient and fail to identify the majority of victims prior to the onset of a life-threatening event. In Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology, Detection and Treatment, Dr. Morteza Naghavi and leading authorities from the Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE) present a new paradigm for the screening and primary prevention of asymptomatic atherosclerosis. The text focuses on accurate, yet underutilized, measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, notably coronary artery calcium scanning and carotid intima-media thickness measurement. The authors introduce a comprehensive approach to identifying the vulnerable patients (asymptomatic individuals at risk of a near future adverse event). Additional chapters discuss future directions towards containing the epidemic of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease using innovative solutions such as preemptive interventional therapies (bioabsorbable stents) for stabilization of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, mass unconditional Polypill therapy for population-based risk reduction, and ultimately vaccination strategies to prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Up-to-date and authoritative, Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology, Detection, and Treatment is a must-have for any cardiologist or primary care physician who wishes to practice modern preventive cardiology and manage the increasing number of asymptomatic atherosclerotic patients. Outlines more accurate measures of risk (coronary artery calcium and carotid intima-media thickness) than traditional risk factors (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol) Presents new multipronged strategies to aid in the early detection and treatment of high risk asymptomatic patients

This book reviews the latest findings on epicardial coronary spasm and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), important diseases for understanding coronary artery vasomotion abnormalities. The book chiefly consists of two major parts, each of which explores the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. The chapters present a range of experimental and clinical studies, including the editor’s life’s work on coronary spasm; how Rho-kinase activation plays an important role in connection with the disease; how chronic adventitial inflammation is a central pathophysiology of the spasm; the importance of Rho-kinase activation in the pathogenesis of CMD; how epicardial spasm and CMD frequently co-exist; and much more. Coronary Vasomotion Abnormalities will help practicing cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular biologists and radiologists understand the latest issues concerning the clinical, interventional, and surgical management of these conditions, and offer these readers valuable insights into the effective treatment of microvascular angina.

New updated edition first published with Cambridge University Press. This new edition includes 29 chapters on topics as diverse as pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, vascular haemodynamics, haemostasis, thrombophilia and post-amputation pain syndromes.

This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.