Progression and regression of the atherosclerotic plaque

Comparison between two‐ and three‐dimensional quantitative coronary angiography bifurcation analyses for the assessment of bifurcation lesions: A subanalysis of the TRYTON pivotal IDE coronary bifurcation trial

“…Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) has been introduced in the mid‐eighties to overcome the shortcomings of visual assessment of stenosis severity, such as a marked inter‐ and intra‐observer variability . Conventional two‐dimensional (2D) QCA has been accepted as an objective and reproducible method to quantify coronary lesion severity, and QCA parameters have been accepted as surrogate endpoints in numerous randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of new technologies in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and the effect of new pharmaceutical agents on coronary artery disease progression/regression .…”

Calcium antagonists as anti-atherosclerotic agents

“…A number of risk factors are known to be associated with atherosclerosis, including hypertension [8] and high cholesterol diets [9]. Evidence for the effect of blood pressure on atherosclerosis includes: the difference in atheroma formation between arteries and veins; the fact that veins transplanted to the arterial circulation develop atheroma; and the finding that atherosclerosis in the pulmonary circulation is correlated with pulmonary hypertension [10].…”

Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in clinical practice: special considerations for intensified lifestyle modification

“…Several groups have reported positive results with diverse cardiovascular risk reduction programmes [29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. In this context, it is not surprising that Wallner et al [36] in a prospective, randomized, single-centre secondary prevention trial in CAD patients after percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (without stenting), which evaluates the effects of a 12-month intensified lifestyle intervention, confirm a better outcome (reduction in risk variables as well as reduction in 'clinical' need for further revascularization procedures) for those patients who underwent an intensified lifestyle modification.…”

“…Despite these limitations, a general finding of angiographic trials using lipid-lowering therapy as well as comprehensive lifestyle change trials is that retardation or arrest of coronary atherosclerosis is possible after an intervention, although the ultimate goal, regression of the lesion, is achieved in only a small number of patients [30,31]. However, the ability to stabilize coronary atherosclerosis is a considerable achievement for those patients, and cardiovascular events (main goal) can be reduced significantly [30,31]. Wallner et al [36] evaluated the effects of lifestyle modification on a clinical (not angiographic) basis.…”

“…Cardiovascular risk reduction programmes [29][30][31][32][33][34][35] definitively demonstrate better outcome. Wallner et al [36] present, including limitations, another example of the need for lifestyle modifications for secondary prevention of CAD.…”