Summary
An association has been established between acute and more persistent changes in lipid
metabolism as reflected in plasma lipids, and platelet lipid metabolism. Platelet
function is affected, particularly the activity and availability of platelet factor
3, however, also other changes making the platelets more sensitive to aggregating
substances without interfering with the lipid part of platelet factor 3, have been
documented. Experimental studies have demonstrated an increased tendency to thrombosis
in animals given a diet with a high fat content with a high ratio of saturated to
polyunsaturated fatty acids. Studies in man have mainly established a connection between
dietary fats, plasma lipid abnormalities and frequency of coronary heart disease and
clinical studies more directly relating thrombosis to lipid metabolism is highly warranted.
Many open questions remain to be answered. Probably most relevant would be to understand
how the antithrombotic mechanisms in the body are affected by changes in lipid metabolism.
Even if thrombotic lesions are very common events in the western world our knowledge
based on laboratory and experimental studies should indicate a much higher incidence,
solely based on interactions between lipids and platelets in subjects exposed to our
dietary habits and our way of life.
