Atherosclerosis - Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Stanford University Medical Center

Cardiovascular Diseases

Atherosclerosis

What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. (Arteriosclerosis is a general term for thickening or hardening of the arteries.) Plaque is made up of deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin, and can develop in medium or large arteries. The artery wall becomes thickened and looses its elasticity.

Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may start as early as childhood. However, the disease has the potential to progress rapidly.

What causes atherosclerosis?
It is unknown exactly how atherosclerosis begins or what causes it. Some scientists think that certain risk factors may be associated with atherosclerosis, including the following:

elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels
high blood pressure
smoking
type 1 diabetes
obesity
physical inactivity

How does the disease progress?
Atherosclerosis progresses with a gradual build-up of plaque or thickening of the inside of the walls of the artery, which causes a decrease in the amount of blood flow, and a decrease in the oxygen supply to the vital body organs and extremities.

A heart attack may occur if the oxygenated blood supply is reduced to the heart. A stroke may occur if the oxygenated blood supply is cut off to the brain. Gangrene may occur if the oxygenated blood supply is reduced to the arms and legs.

What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?
The signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis may develop gradually and may be few, as the plaque builds up in the artery. Symptoms may also vary depending on the affected artery. However, when a major artery is blocked, signs and symptoms may be severe, such as those occurring with heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, or blood clot.

The symptoms of atherosclerosis may resemble other cardiac conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for atherosclerosis may include any, or a combination of, the following:

coronary arteriogram (or angiogram) - a procedure that involves x-rays being taken after a contrast agent is injected into an artery to locate the narrowing, occlusions, and other abnormalities of specific arteries.
Doppler sonography - a special transducer is used to direct sound waves into a blood vessel to evaluate blood flow. An audio receiver amplifies the sound of the blood moving though the vessel. Faintness or absent of sound may indicate an obstruction in the blood flow.
blood pressure comparison - compares blood pressure measurements in the ankles and in the arms to determine any constriction in blood flow. Significant differences may indicate a narrowing of vessels which could be caused by atherosclerosis.
MUGA/radionuclide angiography - a nuclear scan to see how the heart wall moves and how much blood is expelled with each heartbeat, while the patient is at rest.
thallium/myocardial perfusion scan - a nuclear scan given while the patient is at rest or after exercise that may reveal areas of the heart muscle that are not getting enough blood.

Treatment for atherosclerosis:
Specific treatment for atherosclerosis will be determined by your physician based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
location of the blockage
signs and symptoms
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

lifestyle modifications (to control risk factors, including regular exercise, proper nutrition, and smoking cessation)
coronary angioplasty - with this procedure, a catheter is used to create a bigger opening in the vessel to increase blood flow. Although angioplasty is performed in other blood vessels, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) refers to angioplasty in the coronary arteries to permit more blood flow into the heart. There are several types of PTCA procedures, including the following:

balloon angioplasty - a small balloon is inflated inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area.
atherectomy - the blocked area inside the artery is "shaved" away by a tiny device on the end of a catheter.
laser angioplasty - a laser is used to "vaporize" the blockage in the artery.
coronary artery stent - a tiny coil is expanded inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area and is left in place to keep the artery open.

brachytherapy
intravascular ultrasound

For more information, please contact the Stanford Health Library