[The role of immunological factors in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis]

Immunological factors seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, which is a multifactorial chronic disease. It was demonstrated on animals that antibodies, immune complexes and cells may be the reason why the immunological damage in the vascular wall appears and may lead in consequence to the development of atherosclerotic changes. Immunological mechanisms of atherosclerosis are discussed.