Platelets and atherosclerosis.

This discussion has centered about the consequences of the loss of endothelial integrity and how the blood platelet behaves under these circumstances. It is clear that the platelet can function as a participant in the development of the atherosclerotic lesion, can be an important contribution to mechanisms that operate to produce vascular spasm, and ultimately can play a major role in the development of thrombosis at the site of the complicated end-stage atherosclerotic lesion.