[Immune pathogenesis models of arteriosclerosis (author's transl)]

Immune pathogenesis models of arteriosclerosis can be divided in 2 groups: autoaggression and allergy models. Particular relevance is admitted to the effect of immune complexes as these can release a large part of the basic mechanisms of arteriosclerosis. Whether and in which extent immune mechanisms approach a causal role to the human arteriosclerosis in fact still isn't, decided absolutely. Possible immunologic causes must be seen always in connection with already assured pathogenesis models and risk factors of arteriosclerosis. In proved immune mechanisms it must be clarified whether they are result, amplifying factor or cause of the arteriosclerosis. It could be made very probably that immune reactions could be a sequence or amplifying factor of arteriosclerosis. Whether they play also a causal role in the spontaneous arteriosclerosis requires further investigations.