Inflammatory and thrombotic mechanisms in coronary atherosclerosis.

Many molecular and cellular mechanisms link inflammation and haemostatic mechanisms. Inflammation, and perhaps chronic infection, may play important roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic lesions are heavily infiltrated by cellular components associated with inflammation (macrophages and T lymphocytes), and acute plaque rupture is also associated with inflammatory components. Several markers of systemic inflammation may predict future cardiovascular events in apparently healthy subjects as well as in patients with chronic and acute syndromes. There may thus be therapeutic potential in modifying the atherosclerotic, vasomotor, and thrombotic components of ischaemic heart disease.