Author/Editor		Poredoš, Pavel
Title		Etiopathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Type		članek
Source		In: Štiblar-Martinčič D, Petrovič D, editors. Cardiovascular diseases. Proceedings of the 32nd memorial meeting devoted to professor Janez Plečnik, International symposium in memory of professor Rene Favaloro; 2001 Dec 6-8; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Medical faculty,
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 157-63
Language		eng
Abstract		Atherosclerosis is now considered an inflammatory disease. This particular type of arterial inflammation may be initiated and sustained by several factors. Risk factors cause injury of endothelium which in early phase of the disease cause endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction leads to compensatory responses that alter normal homeostatic properties of the endothelium and as a consequence endothelium forms inflammatory mediators. Elevated levels of plasma cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, are one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In the arterial wall LDL particles may be modified and taken up by macrophage scavenger receptors. This leads to the foam cell formation and initiation of the inflammatory response. Morphological characteristics of atherosclerotic lessions are very different. Lipid and connective tissue matrix proteins are the two major components of plaques. The first atherosclerotic lesions-fatty streaks are followed by fibro-lipid and finaly advanced plaques appear. Advanced atheroslcerotic plaque then ruptures, an complications develop and consequently clinical symptoms appear.
Descriptors		ATHEROSCLEROSIS INFLAMMATION RISK FACTORS HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA LIPOPROTEINS HYPERTENSION INFECTION