A number of exciting new developments have occurred during the last few
years concerning the platelet-vessel wall interaction. Although they may
be obvious and clear to the specialist in the field, for the clinician
the area has become rather confusing. Time has come to review current
knowledge on the pathophysiology of the platelet-vessel wall interaction
and show how this knowledge can constitute the rationale for
pharmacotherapeutic interventions. A symposium was organized in Antwerp
during which a number of outstanding speakers gave an overview of what
is new on a particular topic and how this information can be translated
to possible clinical applications. The proceedings of the symposium are
not only of interest to the practising physician, but contain enough new
fundamental data to be of use for all those who are interested in the
role of platelets in the etiopathogenes ofcardiovascular diseases.
Arnold G. Herman Antwerp, July 1-991 vii ListofContributors A.G. Herman
DepartmentofPharmaceutical Sciences M.R. Buchanan University Hospital
DepartmentofPathology Universiteitsplein I McMaster Clinic B-261O
ANTWERP (Wilrijk) Hamilton General Hospital Belgium 237 Barton Street
East HAMILTON, Ontario G. Homstra Canada L8L 2X2 DepartmentofHuman
Biology UniversityofLimburg Co-author: SJ. Brister P.O. Box 616 6200MD
MAASTRICHT J.-P. Cazenave The Netherlands Regional Centre ofBlood
Transfusion 10, Rue Spielmann J.F. Martin F-67085 STRASBOURG Cedex
Department ofMedicine France King's College School ofMedicine and
Dentistry Co-authors: C. Gachet and F. Lanza LONDON SE5 9PE U.K.