[Principles and tasks of biochemical research at centers participating in the accomplishment of the national program for the control of cardiovascular diseases].

For substantiation of definite methodological approaches in the biochemical investigations an analysis of published data was carried out. Correlation was considered between one of the early alterations in vessel wall, preceding atherosclerosis, namely proliferation of smooth muscle cells and factors of risk of ishemic heart impairment -- hyperlipoproteinemia, hypertension, smoking. The analysis showed that each of these factors of risk as well as thrombosis increased the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and thereby promoted the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, biochemical research must be directed not only towards revealing of developed impairments in lipoprotein metabolism but the biochemical approach has to be used for diagnosis of the primary impairments in metabolic processes, preceding hyperlipoproteinemia, stable increase in arterial pressure, thrombosis. This approach enables to reveal the early alterations and to begin the rational primary prophylaxis of atherosclerosis.