The mechanism of intimal thickening in arteriosclerosis

The limitations of current theories of the mechanism of intimal thickening in arteriosclerosis are briefly reviewed. The suggestion is advanced that this change is due to intimal oedema, arising from failure of the lymphatic system of the surrounding tissue to remove adequately, protein-containing fluid filtering outwards through the vascular endothelium. It is postulated that such local environmental influences account for the variability in the degree of arterial degeneration seen in different arteries, and in different portions of the same artery.