Current Vascular Pharmacology - Volume 10, Issue 2, 2012

Diabetes mellitus is a leading health problem both in western societies as well as in developing countries. Diabetes affects more than 200 million people worldwide, with more than 3 million deaths attributed yearly to the disease, and World Health Organization (WHO) predictions expect a double increase of diabetes-related mortality until 2030 [1]. The diabetes-related burden of disease ranges from cardiovascular disease Read More

Objective: Diabetic patients are at risk of macro- and micro-vascular complications, including diabetic nephropathy, and have difficulties in achieving blood pressure (BP) goals. Aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, inhibits the first step of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system. We aimed to systematically address the relevant evidence on the effects of aliskiren in diabetic individuals. Methods: We considered randomized co Read More

Type-2 diabetes is a complex disease modified by a number of environmental and genetic factors that contribute at varying degrees to the final phenotype and possibly interact with each other. Deciphering the genetic background of the disease serves multiple goals ranging from expanding our knowledge on the disease pathogenesis and identifying future targets for drug development to successfully personalizing clinical dis Read More

The goal of treating hypertension in patients with diabetes is reduction of macrovascular and microvascular complications. Most current guidelines recommend more aggressive treatment goals with blood pressure (BP) targets of <130/80 mmHg. Retrospective data analyses suggest an association between a lower BP and slower declines in chronic kidney disease (CKD) as well as greater cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction Read More

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disorder and its prevalence is expected to increase due to the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. NAFLD is associated with increased mortality rates and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in these patients. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is not completely elucidated but insulin resistance and oxidative stress appear to play a majo Read More

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering remains the main target of hypolipidemic therapy [1]. Statins are the most widely used evidence-based drugs for the management of dyslipidemia and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events [2]. The main lipid “target” of statins is LDL-C levels but they also exert variable effects on highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) levels [3]. Read More

Objective: The long-term event monitoring (LEM) study evaluated the lipid-lowering efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia. The present sub-analysis focused on the impact of risk factors on event prevention. Methods: In the LEM study, patients (n=21,139) who started fluvastatin between 2000/4/1 and 2002/3/31 in Japan were prospectively registered and followed up for 3 years Read More

The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) confers a greater risk for both diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Both insulin resistance and low grade inflammation appear to be pivotal in the pathogenesis of this disorder. The cornerstone of treatment presently is therapeutic lifestyle change with the emphasis on weight loss by diet and exercise. It appears that the evidence base will support statins as first line therapy for the dyslip Read More

Heart transplantation (HTx) is the treatment of choice for patients with refractory end-stage heart diseases. Although the procedure is considered effective in extending and improving quality of life, the onset of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) continues to limit the long-term success of HTx. Emerging data indicate that the endothelium plays a significant role in the onset, progression and complication of this multifactorial Read More

Statins are well established drugs for primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite the well-known ability of statins to lower cholesterol, it is now clear that clinical benefits are also substantially higher than expected and several clinical trials, like JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin trial) have indicated that such clin Read More

In 2004, approximately 9 million people worldwide experienced a stroke, with the majority being ischemic in nature. While the prognosis for recovery can be good, long-term survival and functional outcome can be improved. Stroke survivors are at an increased risk for recurrent stroke and other ischemic vascular events and face significant cross-risk for atherothrombotic conditions affecting the coronary and peripheral Read More

Several lines of evidence suggest a detrimental effect of aldosterone excess on the development of metabolic alterations. Glucose metabolism derangements due to aldosterone action are frequently observed not only in patients with primary aldosteronism but also in patients with obesity. A contribution to the hyperaldosteronism observed in obese subjects can be attributed, at least in part, to the action of still unidentified adi Read More

Although infective endocarditis (IE) is not the most frequent infection seen in intravenous (IV) drug abusers (IVDAs), health care providers should always regard it as a possible diagnosis in this population. Many researchers have tried to elucidate the clinical, epidemiologic, immunologic and pathogenetic aspects of this entity. Right-sided endocarditis accounts for almost 10% of all IE episodes and has been most commonly int Read More

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the most widely prescribed therapeutic class of drugs worldwide, with established clinical benefits both in terms of improving serum lipid profiles and reducing cardiovascular events and mortality. Although statins have a favorable risk-to-benefit ratio, they have the potential to cause adverse events which can result in muscular inflammation (myositis), Read More