The thrombocyte membrane in circulatory diseases.

There is no certain evidence for the proposition, often put forward, that thrombocytes, or platelets, are involved in atherogenesis. On the other hand, thrombotic deposits in arteries as well as in the blood channels of artificial organs consist at first mainly of platelets. This contribution reviews evidence indicating that the formation of such thrombi depends on alterations in the platelet membrane and that these in turn depend on an agent, apparently ADP, which is released from the erythrocytes.