Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Inflammation, cardiac remodeling, and fibrosis are potentially important pathways in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Complications of atherosclerosis are one of the leading causes of death in the world. Effective prevention of cardiovascular disease by adequate control of major cardiovascular risk factors can provide substantial public health gains. However, detection and control of major cardiovascular risk factors continues to be a major challenge because of poor awareness of an individual's status. A solution to this problem is important for an early identification and appropriate correction of cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerotic plaque development is regarded as a chronic inflammatory process which involves interactions between lipids, immune cells and the artery wall. Numerous evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in all stages of the atherosclerotic process. The study of associations of inflammatory biomarkers has led to the idea that the panel of inflammatory biomarkers can identify people at high risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases when anti-inflammatory treatment can prevent further unfavorable events. The most common forms of cardiovascular diseases are caused by atherosclerosis, the progressive thinning of blood vessels due to accumulation of lipids within the arterial wall. While many factors are known to influence the development and progression of atherosclerosis, circulating levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein complexes are the most important risk factors and mediators of atherosclerotic disease. Key regulators of lipid metabolism and/or the development of atherosclerosis have diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential for cardiovascular diseases.