Nilotinib treatment-associated accelerated atherosclerosis: when is the risk justified?

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death and morbidity in developed countries and is the culprit behind coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebral vascular disease (CVD) and peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD). Atherosclerosis leads to segmental narrowing and occlusion of arteries, and current opinion favors a complex pathogenetic process that involves the endothelium, platelets, monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes, lipids, inflammation and chemokines/cytokines.