[New insights in the pathogenesis of prothrombotic state associated with hypercholesterolemia]

Hypercholesterolemia and overt atherosclerotic disorders have been associated with a low-grade inflammation that involves not only the intrinsic cells of the artery wall, but also circulating cells. Platelets as well as monocytes participate importantly in this disease process through the release of a wide variety of biologically active substances. Recent findings on the inflammatory actions of platelets have opened new perspectives in the comprehension of the pathogenetic mechanism(s) of atherosclerosis. Stimulated platelets, in fact, actively synthesize proinflammatory cytokines which have been all involved in the inflammatory process associated to hypercholesterolemia and plaque development. In this context, increasing evidence suggests that interrelated inhibition of inflammation and thrombosis induced by statins could largely contribute to clinical benefits from lipid-lowering therapy.