Clinical laboratory assessment of atherosclerosis--role of hyperlipidaemia and hyperactive platelets.

ABSTRACT

Hyperlipidaemia and platelet hyperfunction have been considered as high-risk factors for atherogenesis. Simultaneous study of these two parameters was undertaken in 43 patients with atherosclerosis (as evidenced by frank myocardial infarction, MI, in 23 patients and ischemic heart disease, IHD, in 20 patients); and in 36 normal subjects who were matched for age (45 to 60 years). Incidence of either of these parameters being high was 36% in normals, 85% in atherosclerosis. Four subjects with circulating platelet aggregates and hyperlipidaemia showed progression of the lesion by crossing over the category of normal to IHD (two) and from IHD to MI (two). These two risk factors, together or independently, appear to cause and control the progress of atherosclerosis and their simultaneous study can be used for its diagnosis. A concept of subintimal hyperlipidosis is presented since none of the existing theories can explain the existence of atherosclerotic lesions exclusively on the developed vascular musculature.