Atherosclerosis of the Aorta: A Risk Factor, Risk Marker, or an Innocent Bystander?

Atherosclerosis of the aorta: a risk factor, risk marker, or an innocent bystander?

In a recent issue of the Journal, Meissner et al. (1) should be congratulated for carrying out a community-based transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) study of thoracic aortic plaque. However, because they included patients with descending aortic plaque (which is more prevalent than arch plaque), their negative conclusions regarding stroke are flawed. It is simply not plausible to consider pla...

Atherosclerosis of the aorta: risk factor, risk marker, or innocent bystander? A prospective population-based transesophageal echocardiography study.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to investigate whether complex aortic atherosclerosis is associated with increased risk of vascular events in a non-selected population. BACKGROUND In selected high-risk patients, aortic atherosclerosis is associated with increased risk of vascular events. METHODS We describe the relationship between simple versus complex (>4-mm thick or mobile debris) ...

Chorioamnionitis: important risk factor or innocent bystander for neonatal outcome?

Chorioamnionitis as a major risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth, especially at earlier gestational ages, contributes to prematurity-associated mortality and morbidity. A gestation-independent effect of chorioamnionitis on neonatal outcome is much more difficult to assess. The influence of chorioamnionitis on neonatal outcome has become less evident with advances in neonatal care. A short-...

High hematocrit as a risk factor for venous thrombosis. Cause or innocent bystander?

Insulin and atherosclerosis: villain, accomplice, or innocent bystander?

Initial descriptions of an association between insuli-naemia and both atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its risk factors appeared nearly 30 years ago. In 1969, Stout and Vallance-Owen suggested a direct role for insulin in atherogenesis.' Stout recently summarised laboratory studies supporting a direct atherogenic effect of insulin through stimulation of vascular smooth muscle prolifer...