Atherosclerosis: Prevention by Agents Not Affecting Abnormal Levels of Blood Lipids

Abstract
Diet-induced atherosclerosis in macaque monkeys was suppressed by anticalcifying agents without changing abnormal levels of blood cholesterol and lipoprotein. The agents included inhibitors of arterial Ca deposition (diphosphonates) and a Ca ion antagonist (La). Regulation of Ca flux and extracellular deposition in arteries may offer new prinicples of treatment for cardiovascular disease.