Investigation and Treatment of Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis

The first manifestation of atherosclerosis is commonly sudden death. Yet despite the fact that the disease has a long asymptomatic phase, diagnostic tests and treatments are largely only available to patients with symptoms. In this review, we discuss recent advances in technology and understanding of the disease process that are providing novel ways to identify patients at risk of having or developing asymptomatic atherosclerosis. We then review some of the disease-modifying drugs, such as antiplatelet agents, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, that can be used to reduce the risk of major adverse clinical events.