Non-traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis

During the last 10 year, several "non-traditional" risk markers for, athero sclerosis haze been identified. Among them, new markers of lipoprotein meta bolism (ie lipoprotein [a]), endothelial dysfunction (ie homocysteine), hem ostasis (ie fibrinogen) crud inflammation (ie C-reactive protein) hate beer s linked to an excessive risk of cardiovascular disease. These factors shou ld help the clinician to better identify individuals at risk of premature a therosclerotic disease and/or improve the predictive value of established r isk factors for atherosclerosis. Finally, these factors are expected to imp rove the knowledge in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, crud perhaps to impact future therapeutic decisions. In this review article, the will analyze the markers its which there are at least some evidence to sup port their acceptance as "non-traditional risk. factors" for atheroscleroti c disease.