[The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis]

Abstract

The article dealing with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, summarizes the knowledge, which relies on the latest investigative results, and which is in connection with the starting of atherosclerosis and with the chronic type inflammation ongoing in the arterial vessel wall, having individual characteristics. Then the general features of the inflammatory response of the organism, the emerging infections, just as that of the autoimmune phenomena are touched upon. The importance of the contribution to the pathogenetic chain of the lipoproteins, the connective tissue matrix proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans is summed up in distinct chapters. The distinguished significance of the attachment between the proteoglycans and lipoproteins, oxydized lipopoteins is particularly underlined. It is established that the chronic nature inflammatory process, possessing individual characteristics, has essential role in the starting, development and in the entire course of the pathological process. The impacts of infections, and that of the possible immunodeficiencies are uncertain. In the author's opinion the definition of atherosclerosis syndrome might be as follows. The point is a non specific chronic inflammatory response of the organism in the form of a specific vasculitis, which constitutes ground to the development of the atherosclerotic process.