Agents that stabilise atherosclerotic plaque.

The concept of plaque stabilisation was developed to explain how medications could decrease adverse coronary events without a substantial reduction in the regression of atherosclerosis. With this concept, a comprehensive view of atherosclerosis is now appreciated. A number of imaging modalities are employed to study atherosclerosis; most identify luminal diameter or stenosis, wall thickness and plaque volume. A number of antiatherosclerotic agents have been studied as well to prove this hypothesis. However, the ultimate goal of medical treatment is to cure or prevent diseases caused by atherosclerosis.