Publisher's Synopsis
Epidemiologic studies have shown that abnormal levels of certain lipoproteins are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This observation has led to the question of whether and how lipoproteins affect the function of blood platelets, since these cells are key elements in the development of arterial thrombosis. Initially, the complexity of lipoproteins made it difficult to discern components that modulate platelet aggregation and secretion. This picture has changed dramatically. Now, there is a considerable body of evidence supporting separate roles for lipid and protein moiety, the changes evoked by oxidation, the involvement of receptors that activate and terminate platelet functions and the possibility to interfere with medication. In this special issue of Pathophysiology of Haemostasis and Thrombosis, a group of authors, all of them experts in their field, present their personal views of different aspects of the interaction between lipoproteins and platelets. While opinions differ and consensus is far from complete in this rapidly evolving field of research, this collection of papers provides an exciting overview and expands our insight into the development of thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
