Prevention or reversal of atherosclerosis: review of current evidence.

Treatment with lipid-reducing agents is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease. Such treatment appears to work at the level of the atherosclerotic lesion, causing stabilization, slowed progression and, in some cases, regression of lesions. Morbidity and mortality studies of cholestyramine and gemfibrozil treatment have shown that a reduction of lipid levels was associated with reduced mortality from coronary heart disease; niacin treatment has been shown to have long-term effects on reducing cardiovascular mortality. Angiographic studies have documented that beneficial effects of treatment with lipid-reducing agents and intensive computer-assisted diet counseling occur at the level of the coronary atherosclerotic lesion.