[Prevention and therapy of arteriosclerosis (author's transl)].

Arteriosclerosis is caused by many factors. These pathogenic factors especially over-nutrition, nicotinabusus, deficiency of muscular exercise, muscular overstrain, emotional stress and concomitant basic diseases, especially arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia are the most important points for preventive and therapeutical action. When possible the risk factors has to be eliminated, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia have to be treated orderly. In the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are known disturbances of the lipid metabolism, the blood coagulation and the metabolism of the arterial wall cells most important. Application of anticoagulants and lipid lowering medicaments did not come up to our expectations. Experiences with animal models and a double blind study (secondary prevention of myocardial infarction) have given good reason for recommending antirheumatic or as we like to say, mesenchyme suppressive drugs.