Knowledge of mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of occlusive
arterial dis- eases is fundamental for the design of prevention and
treatment. A series of studies based on in vitro investigations, the
experimental animal and the human being have slowly increased our
understanding of cardiovascular diseases and unveiled their secrets to
us. Over the last 60 years it has been generally assumed that dietary
fats and lipids and the occurrence of atherosclerosis are closely
related. Yet, even if epidemiological studies clearly indicate the
existence of an association between the amount of composition of dietary
lipids and morbidity and mortality of cardio- vascular disease, our
basic knowledge on cause and effect is still hidden in a cloud of
uncertainty. The present book discusses the relation between dietary
lipids and arterial throm- bosis, which latter process has been observed
in the coronary arteries in up to 90% of subjects with acute myocardial
infaction. In this volume Dr. Hornstra, who has occupied himself with
thrombosis research with never-failing enthusiasm, great skill and
critical approach for the last fifteen years, tries to establish
possible links between lipid metabolism and thrombosis. His literature
studies are comprehensive and his investigations are impressive in that
they give a new dimension and a new methodology to research of lipids
and thrombosis.