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SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
REVIEW
VOLUME 12 NUMBER 2 • NOVEMBER 2015
59
and is likely a better predictor of CAD than the currently available risk
markers, which are single, point measurements in time.
Thirdly, although the development and progression of
atherosclerosis occurs over decades, the process is clinically silent
until the manifestation of full-blown disease. The rate of telomere
shortening is accelerated prior to the onset of clinical disease, so
longitudinal assessments of telomere length may be of predictive
value. Finally, novel therapies aimed at delaying cellular senescence
by manipulation of the telomere/telomerase complex may be of
benefit.
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