[The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis]

Inflammation plays an important role in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease and the precipitation of acute coronary events. However, the inflammatory triggers are still poorly understood. Histologically, unstable atherosclerotic plaque contains activated macrophages and T lymphocytes, adhesion molecules, chemokines and cytokines, matrix-degrading enzymes and prothrombotic factors. Circulating inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and interleukins (especially IL-6) are increased in high-risk groups of patients and predict future risk.