Dietary Fats, Prostanoids and Arterial Thrombosis

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.