Current Vascular Pharmacology - Volume 19, Issue 5, 2021

IMPROVE-IT (IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial) was a randomized clinical trial (including 18,144 patients) that evaluated the efficacy of the combination of ezetimibe with simvastatin vs. simvastatin monotherapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and moderately increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (of up to 2.6-3.2 mmol/L; 100-120 mg/dL). After 7 year Read More

In this second part of the review of the IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial (IMPROVE-IT), the findings in relation to patients with stroke, the ACS phenotype, history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, heart failure, concurrent polyvascular atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and diabetes mellitus, and different levels of expression of selected cardiovascular biomarkers, are disc Read More

Background: Having in mind that diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are some of the greatest health challenges of the modern era, diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is becoming more and more recognized in clinical practice. Main Text: Initially, DM is asymptomatic, but it may progress to diastolic and then systolic left ventricular dysfunction, which results in congestive heart failure. A basic feature of this DM complication is Read More

Since the discovery of ischemic pre- and post-conditioning, more than 30 years ago, the knowledge about the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in these processes has significantly increased. In clinical practice, on the other hand, such advancement has yet to be seen. This article provides an overview of ischemic pre-, post-, remote, and pharmacological conditioning related to the heart. In addition, we reviewed th Read More

Due to its poor regenerative capacity, the heart is specifically vulnerable to xenobiotic- induced cardiotoxicity, myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury and other pathologies. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is considered as an essential factor in protecting cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress resulting from free radicals and reactive oxygen species. It also serves as a key regulator of antioxidant enzyme Read More

Background: Clopidogrel monotherapy is guideline-recommended in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). The advent of new antithrombotic strategies prompts an updated analysis of available evidence on antiplatelet therapy for PAD. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL through January 2019 for randomised controlled trials and observational studies comparing antiplatelet therapies Read More

Introduction: Cardiovascular (CV) complications are the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. In 2017, the Italian Medicines Agency authorised tolvaptan, a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, for the treatment of ADPKD, based on the Tolvaptan Phase 3 Efficacy and Safety Study in ADPKD (TEMPO 3: 4), TEMPO 4: 4 and Replicating Evidence of Prese Read More

Objective: Non-adherence to antihypertensive agents leads to reduced blood pressure (BP) control. Data supporting the correlation of adherence with arterial stiffness (AS) are few. Furthermore, the causal relationship between AS and cognitive dysfunction (CO/DY) has not been clearly established. It is suggested that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) exhibit the lowest discontinuation rate among antihypertensive d Read More

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its severe form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are major health problems worldwide. Genetics may play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH. Aims: To investigate the prevalence of NAFLD/NASH in 5,400 military personnel and evaluate the effect of treatment with 3 statins on NAFLD/NASH using 2 non-invasive scores [NAFLD Activity Score (NAS); F Read More