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(Circulation. 2004;109:III-20 – III-26.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis: Evolving Vascular Biology and Clinical Implications

Inflammation in Atherosclerosis and Implications for Therapy

Rodolfo Paoletti, MD, PhD; Antonio M. Gotto, Jr, MD, DPhil; David P. Hajjar, PhD

From the Department of Pharmacological Sciences (R.P.), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; and Weill Medical College of Cornell University (A.M.G., D.P.H.), New York, NY.

Correspondence to Rodolfo Paoletti, MD, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy. E-mail rodolfo.paoletti{at}unimi.it

Atherosclerosis is now understood to be a disease characterized by inflammation that results in a host of complications, including ischemia, acute coronary syndromes (unstable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction), and stroke. Inflammation may be caused by a response to oxidized low-density lipoproteins, chronic infection, or other factors; and markers of this process, such as C-reactive protein, may be useful to predict an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Thus, we believe that inflammatory processes may be potential targets of therapy in preventing or treating atherosclerosis and its complications.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • coronary heart disease • C-reactive protein • inflammation • risk factors