{
  "id": 19689536,
  "title": "Inflammation is involved in the earliest stages of atherosclerosis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/inflammation-is-involved-in-the-earliest-stages-of-atherosclerosis",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-12T18:40:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-inflammation-involved-earliest-stages-atherosclerosis.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Inflammation plays a crucial role in the earliest stages of atherosclerosis, even before any symptoms or cardiovascular events arise, according to a study led by researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC). Published in the European Heart Journal, the research reveals that systemic inflammation contributes to disease development independently of traditional risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Atherosclerosis is a silent process that starts decades before it becomes clinically apparent, and this new study provides evidence that inflammation is an essential component of its development. By using advanced imaging techniques and analyzing inflammatory biomarkers, the study found that inflammation was associated with greater plaque buildup in arteries, more extensive involvement of different vascular territories, and a higher burden of atherosclerotic plaque. Dr. Valentín Fuster, co-lead author and CNIC director, explains that incorporating inflammatory biomarkers into cardiovascular risk assessment could improve identification of people at higher risk and personalize prevention strategies. The researchers are now exploring whether targeting inflammation at earlier stages can halt the atherosclerotic process, potentially leading to more effective prevention methods.",
  "summary": "Inflammation plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis from its earliest stages, long before the onset of symptoms or cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. This is the main conclusion of a study led by a team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) and published in the European Heart Journal. The research shows that systemic…",
  "key_points": [
    "Inflammation crucial in early atherosclerosis stages",
    "Study led by CNIC researchers published in European Heart Journal",
    "Inflammation linked to plaque buildup and vascular involvement"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}