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Orekhov et al. Vessel Plus 2017;1:163-5 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2017.33
www.vpjournal.net
Topic: Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases Open Access

Introduction of the special issue

“Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases”

Alexander N. Orekhov , Ekaterina A. Ivanova 3
1,2
1 Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow 125315, Russia.
2 Institute for Atherosclerosis Research (Skolkovo), Moscow 121609, Russia.
3 XPE Pharma & Science, Wavre 1300, Belgium.
Correspondence to: Prof. Alexander N. Orekhov, Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow 125315,
Russia. E-mail: a.h.opexob@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Orekhov AN, Ivanova EA. Introduction of the special issue “Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases”. Vessel Plus
2017;1:163-5.

Article history: Received: 19 Sep 2017 Accepted: 20 Sep 2017 Published: 28 Dec 2017

Atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic diseases remain of the disease mechanisms and the absence of
the problem number one of current medicine and health comprehensive concepts of the disease pathogenesis.
care being the cause of myocardial infarction, stroke, Detailed studying of the disease mechanisms at
sudden death, and other common causes of mortality molecular and cellular level using modern methods
and disability. Atherosclerotic diseases account for of analysis should attempt to solve this problem.
more than 50% of total mortality in industrialized Among the mechanisms to be studied at the first
societies. Atherosclerotic lesion development has a place, are lipid metabolism, innate immunity, chronic
long asymptomatic phase. Therefore, in many cases, inflammation and cell differentiation. In addition to the
the first clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis traditional methods of morphology and biochemistry,
appear when the lesion is already well developed the most advanced techniques of cellular and
causing significant narrowing of the vascular lumen. molecular biology should be applied. The results of
Current treatment of atherosclerosis is mainly these studies should contribute to the development of
symptomatic and does not affect the atherosclerotic novel comprehensive concepts of the pathogenesis
lesion per se. Frequently, symptomatic therapy that of atherosclerosis and to identification of novel
improves the state of the patient even provokes further pharmacological tagets for direct anti-atherosclerotic
development of atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, direct therapy. During the recent years, in addition to the
anti-atherosclerotic therapy aimed at regression of widely-accepted lipid concept of atherogenesis, new
atherosclerotic plaques remains to be developed. targets for anti-atherosclerotic therapy associated with
Such development should become a major goal of innate immunity and inflammation were proposed.
modern medicine and pharmaceutical industry, taking
into account the burden and clinical significance of the Three articles of this special issue are discussing
disease. the mechanisms of atherogenesis and the diseases
associated with atherosclerosis. It is commonly
The development of novel anti-atherosclerotic accepted that modified low density lipoprotein (LDL)
therapies is hindered by the lack of knowledge plays a key role in the initiation and development of

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