Thrombotic and thromboembolic occlusions of atherosclerotic blood vessels are the main cause of ischemic events. Platelet activation and aggregation is considered to be central to arterial thrombus production. The process of thrombosis starts when the atherosclerotic plaque tears and exposes the lipid-rich core to blood in the arterial lumen. Platelet adherence to the exposed subendothelium and collagen results in platelet activation and the release and local accumulation of soluble platelet agonists (thrombin, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), serotonin, and thromboxane A2). This, in turn, causes further platelet aggregation, coronary artery vasoconstriction, and subsequent reduction in coronary artery blood flow.

References

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