Prediction of Angiographic Stabilization/Regression of Coronary Atherosclerosis by a Risk Factor Graph

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The only reason for treating dyslipidaemia is the prevention and/or stabilization of atherosclerosis. Angiographic stabilization/reversal of coronary atherosclerosis predicts a decrease in future atherosclerotic disease manifestations. METHODS: This paper reports on an analysis of eight angiographic trials that use therapy of dyslipidaemia in order to stabilize/reverse coronary atherosclerosis. The analysis involved plotting trial lipid and blood pressure end-points on a risk factor graph which contained a threshold line in order to determine whether bringing trial end-points below that threshold line predicted angiographic stabilization/regression of coronary atherosclerosis. RESULTS: In fact, the angiograms for those patients whose lipid-blood pressure plots were brought below the threshold line exhibited stabilization/regression of coronary atherosclerosis in 75% of cases. It is suggested that the goal of dyslipidaemic therapy should be to bring patient lipid-blood pressure plots below the threshold line so as to stabilize/reverse extant coronary atherosclerosis, apparent or inapparent, in the majority of dyslipidaemic patients.