Platelets, thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

The interaction of platelets with the vessel wall can contribute to the early stages in the development of atherosclerosis through effects on smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial permeability, and possibly by causing vessel wall injury. Platelets are involved in the development of thrombi in response to vessel injury, and the repeated formation of platelet emboli and platelet-fibrin emboli from the mural thrombi may be one of the factors that cause clinical complications of atherosclerosis. Drugs which inhibit platelet function, particularly those that prolong shortened platelet survival (sulfinpyrazone and dipyridamole) may prove to be important in inhibiting the response of blood to vessel injury and thereby modifying the extent of atherosclerosis and its complications.