"One of the remains of the research of arteriosclerosis is to identify the vulnerable patient", explains Dr. José Antonio Páramo, director of the laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the research center Applied Medicine and co-director of the department of Hematology of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. Dr. Páramo is the president of the committee Organizer of the National congress of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis, which will be held in Pamplona on May 27-29.

Until a few years ago it was thought that arteriosclerosis was an irreversible pathology caused by hardening of the arteries. "Today we know that it is an inflammatory disease and on these factors we are focusing our research, both at the cellular level and with preclinical assays."

During the scientific meeting the researchers at CIMA are going to present the latest advances in the early detection of cardiovascular risk. "We are developing new biomarkers that allow us to identify, through a blood test, patients with a greater predisposition to develop cardiovascular disease. Specifically, results will be presented from area of Cardiovascular Sciences in relation to new markers of oxidative stress in arterial hypertension, metalloprotease 10, in arteriosclerosis and antibodies such as antiEPCR, in thrombosis."

Leading cause of death in Spain

At present, cardiovascular diseases caused by arteriosclerosis are the leading cause of death in Spain, accounting for 32% of the total. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020 it will cause 20 million deaths a year.

Dr. Páramo stresses that it is essential "to know the traditional risk factors (obesity, smoking, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia) and emerging ones, and to analyze the epidemic of obesity and diabetes in children. In addition, we must study the mechanisms involved in vessel inflammation, as well as new treatments that act to reduce the vulnerability of atheromatous plaque.

The congress is complemented by a heart-healthy conference aimed at the general public, with educational talks and vascular risk measurement. "It aims to respond to the health and social challenges of atherosclerosis in a triple dimension: educating society in healthy lifestyle habits, optimizing health resources and stimulating the research", explains the researcher of CIMA.