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Stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques: New mechanisms and clinical targets

Nature Medicine volume 8, pages 1257–1262 (2002)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 January 2003

Research points to pivotal roles for lipids in the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Lipid-lowering statins substantially reduce acute coronary events resulting from plaque development, but only modestly reduce arterial stenosis. This apparent paradox has shifted the goal of therapy towards plaque stabilization rather than enlargement of the lumen. More thorough understanding of the biology of atherosclerosis should enable us to manipulate plaque stability, and reduce further the acute complications of atherosclerosis.

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Figure 1: Large atheroma may not produce flow limiting stenosis.
Figure 2: Evolution and stabilization of 'vulnerable' atherosclerotic plaques.

D. Maizels

Figure 3: Rupture of an inflamed atheroma with thrombus formation.
Figure 4: Stabilization of a disrupted plaque.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K.E. Williams and D. Lynn for their editorial assistance. The work from our laboratory described herein was supported by grants to P.L. from the Leducq Foundation and the United States National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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  1. Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Leducq Center for Cardiovascular Research, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Peter Libby & Masanori Aikawa

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Correspondence to Peter Libby.

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Libby, P., Aikawa, M. Stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques: New mechanisms and clinical targets. Nat Med 8, 1257–1262 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1102-1257

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