The relation between atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Abstract

The relation between atherosclerosis and thrombosis has been recognized for over a century. Until very recently, however, this pathophysiological association has been largely based on observation with little information available to dissect molecular and cellular mechanism. The known associations between the principal determinants of thrombosis (platelets, fibrin and its proteolytic degradation products, and fibrinolytic enzymes) and atherosclerosis; the regulation of thrombotic determinants by cytokines and growth factors important in atherogenesis; and the modulation of thrombotic determinants by atherogenic lipoproteins, especially lipoprotein(a), are discussed. Within this conceptual framework, clear molecular and cellular mechanisms emerge, and a better basic understanding of the thrombotic determinants of atherogenesis can be developed.