atherosclerosis

Question 1

what are the early stages of atherosclerosis formation following endothelial dysfunction

Answer 1

1. Increased
   endothelial
   permeability
2. Upregulation of
   endothelial
   adhesion molecules
3. Leukocyte
   adhesion

4.Migration of
leukocytes
into the
artery wall

Question 2

what is the earliest recognisable lesion of atherosclerosis?

Answer 2

the ‘fatty streak’

Question 3

what characterises a vulnerable plaque?

Answer 3

Vulnerable plaques are characterised by a thin fibrous caps, a core rich in lipid and macrophages, and less evidence of smooth muscle proliferation

Question 4

what characterises a stable plaque?

Answer 4

has a relatively thick fibrous cap protecting the lipid core from the contact with blood.

Question 5

what are the risk factors of atherosclerosis?

Answer 5

high LDL cholesterol 
low HDL cholesterol
smoking
high BP
diabetes

Question 6

what is the MOA of statins?

Answer 6

inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase in liver cells. enzyme used in the production of cholesterol

as it does this the liver cells express more LDL receptors which reduces the amount of circulating LDLs

Question 7

what is the MOA of fibrates?

Answer 7

activation of PPAR alpha receptors

PPAR = peroxisome proliferator activated receptors

Question 8

what drug inhibits cholesterol absorption?

Answer 8

ezetimibe