Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

A group of diseases caused by atherosclerotic plaque narrowing or blocking arteries, including coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke.

Atherosclerosis: A chronic disease in which lipid-rich plaques form within the walls of arteries. It is the arterial process underlying the cardiovascular diseases grouped here.
Coronary artery disease: Atherosclerotic narrowing or obstruction of the arteries supplying the heart muscle. It is the coronary form of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Low-density lipoprotein: A cholesterol-carrying lipoprotein particle that transports cholesterol through the bloodstream. Elevated LDL contributes to lipid accumulation in arterial walls.
Arteriosclerosis: A general term for thickening and loss of elasticity in arterial walls. It is broader than atherosclerosis, which specifically involves plaque formation.
Endothelial dysfunction: Impaired function of the endothelial cell layer lining blood vessels. Endothelial injury and dysfunction help initiate plaque formation.
Ischemic stroke: Brain injury caused by an interruption of blood flow from an obstructed artery. Atherosclerosis can block arteries supplying the brain and cause this event.
Familial hypercholesterolemia: An inherited disorder that causes markedly elevated LDL cholesterol from birth. It demonstrates how lifelong LDL exposure can produce premature atherosclerotic disease.
Arterial dissection: A tear within an artery wall that allows blood to separate its layers. Dissection can obstruct blood flow but does not arise from plaque buildup.
Atherosclerotic plaque: A buildup of lipids, inflammatory cells, connective tissue, and other material within an artery wall. Plaque accumulation narrows arteries and creates sites where acute events can begin.
Peripheral artery disease: Atherosclerotic obstruction of arteries outside the heart and brain, usually affecting the legs. It is another major clinical manifestation of systemic arterial plaque.

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