Could direct inhibition of inflammation be the 'next big thing' in treating atherosclerosis?

摘要

The treatment of atherosclerosis during the past 2 decades has been focused on reductions in atherogenic lipids, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and, more recently, has moved toward attempting to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, another major component of atherosclerosis is inflammation. Although long recognized in the laboratory, clinical investigators have more recently measured high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in large clinical trials and linked higher levels with increased risk of mortality and cardiovascular events. This has led to intense interest in inflammation as a target for treatment, with the possibility that it could be the "next big thing" in managing atherosclerosis.