ABSTRACT
Alterations in collagen metabolism giving rise to changes in collagen composition may have serious pathological consequences, and this chapter considers changes of this nature that may be associated with vascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a commonly occurring disease of arteries in which focalized fibrous lesions or plaques develop on the intimal surface of the vessel wall, protruding into the lumen and causing reduced blood flow that may lead to impaired organ function. The vascular disorders associated with diabetes and affecting both large and small vessels are regarded by some as a possible consequence of the relatively high levels of nonenzymic glycosylation occurring in collagens of the vessel wall as a result of the elevated blood sugar levels in this disease. In cases of the isolated disease, there is evidence that the amount of collagen may sometimes be increased in the affected vessel relative to the amount of elastin.
