Platelet-endothelial cell interactions.

We are in an era in which there has been a rapid accumulation of new information about the endothelium and the interactions of platelets with the vessel wall. The decade of the 70s could aptly be designated as the "prostaglandin and endothelium period." One can only speculate that the future will be equally interesting and challenging. It is quite possible that discoveries of congenital and acquired defects of the endothelium will parallel those already described for the platelet and coagulation factors. What is currently looked upon today as a baffling and frustrating case of resistant thrombosis by the clinician may be unraveled tomorrow by the talented and creative investigator who can develop better approaches to the study of the endothelium and platelet interactions with the vessel wall.