Atherosclerosis and prostaglandins.

Atherosclerosis is a curious process of the intima of the vessel walls characterized by platelet aggregation, deposition of thrombotic material, lipid and fibrin which finally culminates in the intimal thickening, vascularization, and haemorrhage from the new vessels. The lipids demonstrated in the atherosclerotic plaque are mainly cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids. Hyperlipidaemia initiates and maintains the atherosclerotic process and a diet rich in unsaturated essential fatty acids is known to be of benefit in arresting the process. Prostaglandins are formed from unsaturated essential fatty acids and are known to regulate platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Thus atherosclerosis may be a disease of altered PG system and if so this would pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.