Cholesterol-lowering and vascular reactivity in relation to coronary heartdisease

Despite the strong evidence that cholesterol-lowering treatment is effectiv e in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, there is a great discrepancy between the results relating to prognosis and the ab ility of this treatment to induce regression of coronary atheromatous plaqu es. Since hypercholesterolemia causes a dysfunction in vascular reactivity, improvement can also be ascribed to restoration of vascular relaxation cap acity This conclusion is supported by a wealth of clinical and experimental evidence. (C) 1999, Medikal Press.