GENE-THERAPY FOR VASCULAR-DISEASE

Disorders of the vascular system are the leading cause of death and di sability in the Western world. Mechanical interventions, such as angio plasty and bypass grafting, constitute the mainstay of treatment for e nd-stage occlusive lesions, Although initially successful in the major ity of cases, the vascular response to injury and subsequent restenosi s limits their long-term efficacy, Current work in the field of gene t herapy has focused on the development of strategies to prevent these c omplications by the use of recombinant DNA technology. This review foc uses on the latest advances in gene therapy for vascular disease, incl uding the development of new vectors for vascular gene delivery, novel treatments for angioplasty-induced restenosis and vein graft intimal hyperplasia, and therapeutic angiogenesis.