Vessel injury and atherosclerosis.

Repeated endothelial injury causes lipid-rich lesion in animals on a normal diet. In severely thrombocytopenic animals these lesions do not form or are markedly inhibited. The occurrence of lipid in some experimental designs is related to continued or repeated deposition of thrombus. Lipid deposition occurs in areas where endothelium is repeatedly removed and regrows. Repeated deposition of thrombus may bring about changes in the metabolism of the neo-intima which favor lipid deposition.