ABSTRACT
As bioactive lipids, sphingolipids participate in the signal transduction of many important physiological processes such as growth and apoptosis. Besides, abnormal levels of sphingolipids were detected in a variety of clinical conditions including hypertension and coronary heart disease, suggesting that sphingolipid metabolism is involved in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. This paper reviewed the relationship between sphingolipid metabolism with four common cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease, hypertension, arrhythmia and heart failure, and the mechanisms involved. What's more, the prospect of sphingolipid pathway as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases is put forward.