Shared risk factors for atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis

Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaque ruptures with subsequent intraluminal thrombosis are the most prevalent causes of acute coronary syndromes, ischemic stroke, acute limb ischemia or cardiovascular death. Hyperlipidemia is no longer considered the primary cause of atherosclerotic disease, as recent data supports the involvement of other triggers such as age, excessive activation of sympathetic nervous system in arterial hypertension, and most importantly, inflammation. Arteriosclerosis is a consequence of interaction between similar mechanisms resulting in arterial stiffening. Furthermore, wall stiffening resulted from the arteriosclerotic process is a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. This unstructured literature review aimed to present the underlying remodelling processes and mechanisms for atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis highlighting the common aspects of this two entities and the continuous interrelation that eventually leads to cardiovascular events.

Keywords

• atherosclerosis
• arteriosclerosis
• inflammation
• sympathicotonia