Author Interviews, Cleveland Clinic, Genetic Research, Heart Disease, PLoS / 14.08.2016
Activating Scavenger System May Treat Blocked Blood Vessels Without Surgery
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Qing Kenneth Wang PhD, MBA
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wuhan, P. R. China and
Department of Molecular Cardiology
The Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and its complication myocardial infarction (MI or so called heart attacks) are the most common causes of deaths in the US and other parts of the world. Based on the American Heart Association statistics, 620,000 Americans have a new MI each year in the United States alone, 295 000 have a recurrent MI, and nearly 400,000 of them will die from it suddenly. Moreover, an estimated 150,000 silent first MI occur each year.
CAD and MI are caused by an occlusion or blockage of a coronary artery, which disrupts blood flow to the heart region, leading to damage or death of cardiac cells, impairment of cardiac function and sudden death. Current treatment of CAD and MI relies on reperfusion therapy with reopening of the occluded coronary artery with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCA) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). However, 12% of patients are not candidates for PCA or CABG due to an unfavorable occlusive pattern, diffuse coronary atherosclerosis, small distant vessels and co-morbidities. An alternative revascularization strategy has to be developed to benefit these patients.
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