Inflammation and atherosclerosis--revisited.

Atherogenesis has been traditionally viewed as a metabolic disease representing arterial obstruction by fatty deposits in its wall. Today, it is believed that atherogenesis involves highly specific biochemical and molecular responses with constant interactions between various cellular players. Despite the presence of inflammatory reaction in each and every step of atherosclerosis from its inception to terminal manifestation, the cause--effect relationship of these 2 processes remains unclear. In this article, we have attempted to review the role of inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis and in its major complication--coronary heart disease.