Apolipoprotein A-I/HDL infusion therapy for plaque stabilization-regression: a novel therapeutic approach.

LDL-lowering therapies, predominantly involving statins, have been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular events in asymptomatic subjects as well as in subjects with clinically established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, despite statin therapy, significant number of cardiovascular events continue to occur indicating the need for additional targets for atherosclerosis management. A number of pre-clinical studies have suggested that several HDL based therapies have the potential to stabilize or regress atherosclerosis consistent with epidemiologic evidence of an inverse relationship between coronary heart disease and HDL cholesterol levels. One such therapeutic approach involves direct infusion of HDL or HDL like molecules for rapid remodeling and stabilization of atherosclerosis. Pre-clinical and proof of concept type preliminary clinical studies suggest the feasibility and potential efficacy of this emerging new therapeutic paradigm.