ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the Western world and one of the most rapidly increasing lethal diseases in the developing world (l). It is a slowly progressive disease characterized by focal accumulations of cells, extracellular matrix, and lipids in the intima of large and middle-sized arteries (2,3). This results in narrowing of the lumen and causes hampered blood flow to the end organ with resultant ischemic symptoms such as angina pectoris and intermittent claudication. Moreover, thrombi often develop on the surface of the lesion and may completely occlude the lumen, leading to infarction of the end organ. This is the most common cause of myocardial infarction. Thrombotic material from such lesions may form arterial emboli that can occlude smaller arteries downstream from the "active plaque," which results in sudden ischemic symptoms such as transient ischemic attacks, stroke, and acute gangrene.
