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(Circulation. 2005;111:955.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Issue Highlights

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	PLATELET-ACTIVATING FACTOR ACETYLHYDROLASE ACTIVITY INDICATES ANGIOGRAPHIC CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE INDEPENDENTLY OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION AND OTHER RISK FACTORS: THE LUDWIGSHAFEN RISK AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH STUDY, by Winkler et al.

 
Inflammatory reactions are known to enhance atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂, also known as platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAH-AH), is a lipoprotein-bound enzyme that may play a role in atherosclerosis via its antiinflammatory actions. In this issue of Circulation, Winkler and colleagues study the association of this enzyme’s activity with angiographic cardiovascular disease from >3000 patients in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study. They report that PAH-AH activity is not associated with unstable coronary syndromes but is associated with angiographic cardiovascular disease independently of LDL levels. The activity of PAH-AH also was associated with select cardiovascular drugs, including (ß-blockers and aspirin. Studies determining whether PAH-AH is just a marker of atherosclerosis or is actively involved in atherogenesis are ongoing. See p 980.

	ALISKIREN, A NOVEL ORALLY EFFECTIVE RENIN INHIBITOR, PROVIDES DOSE-DEPENDENT ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFICACY AND PLACEBO-LIKE TOLERABILITY IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS, by Gradman et al.

 
The renin–angiotensin system plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and has long been a key therapeutic target. Because angiotensin can be produced through a number of pathways other than the classic system, intensive interest has been paid to inhibiting its generation at the initial step of the renin–angiotensin system cascade by renin inhibitors. The clinical use of a number of agents developed in the past 20 years to inhibit the active site of renin, however, was limited because of low potency and short duration of action. Aliskiren is a recently synthesized potent nonpeptidic inhibitor with oral bioavailability. Gradman and colleagues carried out the first placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of aliskiren in hypertension treatment. They clearly demonstrated that once-daily . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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