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Nature Medicine 8, 1227 - 1234 (2002)
doi:10.1038/nm1102-1227

Platelets in atherothrombosis

Zaverio M. Ruggeri1


The participation of platelets in atherogenesis and the subsequent formation of occlusive thrombi depend on platelets' adhesive properties and the inability to respond to stimuli with rapid activation. By understanding the multifaceted mechanisms involved in platelet interactions with vascular surfaces and aggregation, new approaches can be tailored to selectively inhibit the pathways most relevant to the pathological aspects of atherothrombosis.


Arterial thrombosis is the acute complication that develops on the chronic lesions of atherosclerosis and causes heart attack and stroke, today the most common causes of mortality in developed countries. Platelets, with fibrin, are prominent components of the thrombi (clots) that occlude arteries, but may also participate in the development and progression of the atherosclerotic plaque.

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