Review of atherosclerosis regression / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Atherosclerosis (AS) is the principle cause of cardiovascular disease. For many years, AS was regarded as irreversible. However, recent accumulated evidence suggests that AS can regress with proper manipulation. Studies from animal models show that low cholesterol diet can induce obvious regression of AS plaques; Drugs, such as probucol, clolestyramine, lovastatin, isradipine, fosinopril, etc, can reverse the AS respectively by manipulating plasma lipoprotein, scavenging free radicals, blocking calcium channel or inhibiting an-giotensin converting enzyme. Clinical trials furthersubstantiate that good lifestyle and effective control of plasma lipoprotein can reduce clinical events and cause AS plaques regression. Although, AS plaques can regress is no longer in doubt, the mechanism is still unknown. The HDL-mediated reverse cholesterol transport system, apoptosis of the plaque cells may play an important role.