Selected biomarkers of atherosclerosis: clinical aspects

Atherosclerosis is a inflammatory-immunological-degenerative process. Cardiovascular diseases account for 42% of premature deaths among men and 52% of premature deaths among woman. Identification of classical biomarkers of atherosclerosis, such as LDL, HDL and triglycerides may not be helpful in patients with moderate or unusual cardiovascular risk. Non-classical indicators of atherosclerosis include markers of the inflammatory process, markers of atherosclerotic plaque injury, acute phase proteins, ischemic markers, markers of tissue necrosis, markers of myocardial dysfunction. The identification of CVD biomarkers enables the classification of patients to appropriate cardiovascular risk groups. Knowledge about the CVD risk group makes it possible to take rapid therapeutic intervention aimed at limiting this risk. Pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular diseases is primarily based on lowering cholesterol's level in the blood. Additional properties of statins (the most important lipid-lowering drugs) enable their pleiotropic effect by limiting the progression of atherosclerotic lesions by reducing the volume of atherosclerotic plaque. Further research on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis will allow learning new risk factors and new biomarkers of this disease.