Date:01/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/01/stories/2003120103040300.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Programme on atherosclerosis held

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI Nov. 30. A Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on `diagnostic aspects of atherosclerotic complications' was held at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), a deemed university, here, on Sunday.

Inaugurating the programme, the SVIMS director, G. Subramanyam, dwelt on the topic and expressed caution over the dangers posed by it. Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory response to injury of vascular endothelium, is caused by risk factors like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, genetic alterations, elevated blood cholesterol and infectious micro organisms, and could lead to cardiac problems and stroke. Giving an update on the biochemistry of the disease, P.V.L.N. Srinivasa Rao, head of the SVIMS Biochemistry wing, said that after passing through various stages, including smooth muscle migration, the inflammation would thicken the artery wall and make the lumen remain unaltered, a phenomenon called `remodelling,' that could lead to formation of lesions. Aparna R. Bitla, also of the department, said that it was the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in affluent countries. In a significant finding, she said that about one-fourth of the deaths related to this ailment had been found not due to the above risk factors, but something strange and stressed on the need to find other `markers' which could identify risk in healthy individuals.