Atherosclerosis & Platelets

The term Atherosclerosis is used to describe the build up of fatty substances, calcium, cholesterol and other deposits in the inner walls of the arteries. The deposits are generally called as plaque and the arteries thicken and harden because of these deposits.

If the deposit of plaque increases, over a period of time, the blood flow to the rest of the body is constricted, resulting in lesser oxygen supply to other parts of the body. Increasing in plaque may lead to bleeding and blood clotting. The end result is that plaque may partially or totally obstruct the flow of blood through arteries, leading to heart attack or stroke

Cardiovascular diseases on account of atherosclerosis can ultimately prove to be fatal for people especially over the age of 45. Atherosclerosis is the main reason for most of the heart attacks and stroke. Atherosclerosis is the result of injury on the coating of the arteries. Atherosclerosis & platelets aggregation among elderly reflects the relationship between atheroma plaques and carotid wall intima media thickness (IMT).

Studies have been conducted in the recent past to understand the relationship of platelets and carotid atheroma plaque. It has been observed that in elderly people, with or without atherosclerosis, no difference is noted in case of platelet aggregation. Thus as a marker of atherosclerosis, we can not use platelet aggregation measurements for them.

Also it was earlier understood that atherosclerosis lesions occur as a consequence of focal damage to arterial endothelium and aggregation and release of platelets. But studies conducted later have proved that atherosclerosis is an unceasing provocative ailment started by monocyte/lymphocyte, but by not platelet or linkage to the endothelium. That is why platelets are not likely to engage in the premature phases of atherosclerotic plaque development.

It is also true, in case of atherosclerosis & platelets, that platelets aggressively partake in the strict scientific materializations of atherosclerosis. It may also lead to myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death resulting mainly from atherosclerotic plaque interruption. These insights show the role and participation of platelets in atherosclerosis plaque inflammation.