Current ideas on a possibility for regression of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary blood vessels by pharmacotherapy
A possibility of atherosclerosis regression is a fundamental challenge for clinicians. The most potent antiatherogenic drugs are statins which exert, in addition to lipid-lowering, also so-called pleiotropic effects. They directly provide stabilization and sometimes reversal of atherosclerotic plaques, thereby inhibiting atherogenesis. It can be considered proven that the degree of atherosclerotic process regression directly depends on the attained hypolipidemic effect, which additionally increases the urgency of achieving targets of lipid-lowering therapy. Significance of optimal drug choice for individual antiatherogenic therapy enhances simultaneously. Therefore results of a number of recent studies (REVERSAL, ASTEROID), which have demonstrated a possibility for regression of atherosclerotic lesions in vascular walls by pharmacotherapy, have acquired a considerable importance.