Despite a 60% reduction in mortality over the past 30 years, cardiovascular disease (CVD) persists as a leading cause of mortality for men and women in the United States. Furthermore, coronary heart disease is expected to become the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide by the year 2020.

Atherosclerosis is often asymptomatic and overlooked despite the presence of multiple risk factors often culminating in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or death. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that aggressive management of CV risk factors can ease atherosclerotic plaque burden, decreasing coronary events and possibly mortality. Recent advances help researchers understand atherosclerotic progression of both stable and vulnerable plaques. These new insights will eventually provide clinicians with pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic tools to prevent or modify the natural progression of lesions to ACS or myocardial infarction. A better understanding continues to develop about the relationships between hypertension, abnormal levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), inflammation, and atherosclerotic plaque formation and regression. This may help establish appropriate guidelines and recommendations in the future.

This symposium will feature an innovative, case-based presentation and will use an audienceresponse system to develop faculty-participant interactions. The faculty panel will provide state-of-the-art information on the following topics:

• The relationship between hypertension and atherosclerotic plaque burden

• The role of HDL-C, LDL-C, and emerging risk factors in risk stratification

• New imaging techniques for evaluating plaque burden

• Available and upcoming therapies that will potentially alter plaque burden

This educational activity has been developed for cardiologists and other health care professionals who treat patients with cardiovascular disease.