Thoracic Key

Introduction Atherosclerotic disease of the epicardial coronary arteries has been recognized as the cause of angina pectoris for more than 2 centuries, and sudden thrombotic occlusion of an epicardial coronary…

Introduction Myocardial ischemia occurs when the ability to supply oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium is exceeded by the myocardium’s oxygen and nutrient requirements. The heart is primarily an aerobic…

Introduction Several diagnostic tools exist to clinically assess the prevalence and severity of coronary heart disease and to enhance the ability to identify the “vulnerable” patient at risk of developing…

Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Although CAD mortality rates worldwide have declined over the past 4 decades, CAD remains…

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and specifically ischemic heart disease (IHD) have long been the leading cause of death in high-income countries (HICs); indeed, “disease of the heart,” in all its…

Introduction Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process triggered by accumulation of cholesterol-containing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles in the arterial wall. Major etiologic factors include hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette smoking,…

Introduction This chapter reviews current understanding of the genetic architecture of coronary atherosclerosis as gleaned from Mendelian and common, complex forms of the disease. Newly identified pathways and biologic mechanisms…