Biphasic cholesterol homeostasis in carotid artery: A vascular hypothesis

Abstract

Carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) is increased in cardiovascular (CRVD) and cerebrovascular diseases (CBVD) as well as in post cancer therapy. CIMT represents primarily the thickness of cholesterol on arterial wall. It gets increased in atherosclerotic impairment. A switch to hypocholesterolemia in the pathogenicity of carcinogenesis maintains CIMT at the thinner side. Cancer therapy increases the CIMT of carotid artery. Thus, CIMT may be used to differentiate the severity of atherosclerotic flare in post-cancer-therapy. We thus herein describe the diagnostic benefits of CIMT in the outcome of cardiovascular (CRVD), cerebrovascular (CBVD) and carcinogenesis type of disorders. We hypothesize that CIMT can be used as a common diagnostic index for joint venture viz the differentiation of atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis, both biochemically and clinically on a single template.