Current Vascular Pharmacology - Volume 9, Issue 6, 2011

Aim: To assess the reduction in estimated cardiovascular disease (e-CVD) risk after multifactorial treatment for 6 months and follow this change during the next 3-years. Patients-Methods: This prospective, randomized, target driven study included 1,123 subjects (512/611 men/women, aged 45-65 years) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) without diabetes or CVD referred to specialist outpatient clinics. Patients were randomized Read More

Atherosclerotic critical limb ischemia (CLI) is manifested by ischemic rest pain, non-healing ulcers or gangrene. The incidence of CLI is estimated to be approximately 500-1000 new cases per year per million people and is expected to grow in developed countries as the population ages with an increasing prevalence of diabetes. Patients diagnosed with CLI are at very high risk of major amputation and cardiovascular morbidity a Read More

High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear protein that acts as a cytokine when released into the extracellular milieu by necrotic and inflammatory cells, and is involved in inflammatory responses and tissue repair. This protein is released passively during cellular necrosis by almost all cells that have a nucleus, but is also actively secreted by immune cells such as macrophages and monocytes. This cytokine plays a ke Read More

Recent data from genetic and epidemiological studies strongly support a causal relationship between elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations and the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This relationship is continuous, without an Lp(a) threshold, and it is independent of low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively) levels. Although the mec Read More

Venous thromboembolism is a common condition and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are widely used for its treatment. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also a frequent disease especially in subjects with comorbidities admitted to internal medicine wards. LMWHs are eliminated by the kidney and their half-life is increased in renal impairment. Based on a series of available studies we analyzed the relationship between tr Read More

Both elevated levels of uric acid and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been associated with increased vascular risk. Furthermore, certain drugs (e.g. lipid and blood pressure lowering) that decrease)cardiovascular risk and improve/preserve renal function were shown to influence serum uric acid (SUA) levels and/or NAFLD. A link between hyperuricaemia and NAFLD has also been suggested. This review c Read More

Polyamines are organic polycations expressed by all living organisms, which are known to play an essential role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Recent studies revealed their involvement also in cell contractility and migration and in programmed cell death. These processes are known to contribute to restenosis, a pathophysiological process occurring in 10-20% of patients submitted to revascularization proce Read More

The majority of individuals with pre-diabetic states eventually appear to develop diabetes mellitus. During the pre-diabetic state, that may last many years, the risk of cardiovascular disease is modestly increased, with impaired glucose tolerance being slightly stronger predictor for future cardiovascular disease than impaired fasting glucose. The role of different antihypertensive drugs in the acceleration or the delay of dia Read More

Ischemic stroke is the third most common cause of death and of long-term disability and exhibits a high recurrence rate. Therefore, appropriate primary and secondary prevention is mandatory. In non-cardioembolic stroke, in addition to lifestyle changes and to targeted treatments, current guidelines recommend antiplatelet treatment. In cardioembolic stroke, Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are recommended. Although a fav Read More

In spite of enormous efforts, myocardial infarction is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathological myocardial alterations in affected patients are not fully elucidated. Recent studies have uncovered an important regulatory role for microRNAs (miRNAs), a family of small non-coding RNA molecules which - by translational repression or m Read More

Uremic subjects, in addition to accelerated atherosclerosis, develop diffuse media vascular calcification (VC) which, in turn, is associated with increased vascular stiffness and mortality risk. Two sets of risk factors for VC can be considered: passive deposition of calcium-phosphate and active transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblastic- like cells. The former is linked with the metabolic imbalance in di Read More

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a syndrome compromising the health of the mother and the fetus. Endothelial damage and reduced metabolism of the vasodilator adenosine occur and fetal hyperinsulinemia associated with deficient insulin response and a metabolic rather than mitogenic phenotype is characteristic of this pathology. These phenomena lead to endothelial dysfunction of the fetoplacental unit. Majo Read More

Anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation requires careful evaluation because its benefits i.e. prevention of thromboembolism, must be greater than the risk of bleeding. Patients at higher risk of thrombosis are evaluated through specific scores, such as the CHA2DS2VASc, coupled with scoring systems for assessing bleeding risks, such as the HAS-BLED score. In addition to bleeding, other risks have been associated Read More