The association between venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis has emerged
as consistent clinical observation in the last few years. While several experimental,
epidemiological and pharmacologic studies support this association, the initial pathophysiological
mechanism linking these two clinical conditions remains to be established. This review
discusses the pathophysiological bases and a number of experimental and clinical observations
suggesting that the common link between venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis
is represented by a dysfunctional endothelium.
Keywords
Arterial thrombosis - atherothrombosis - venous thrombosis - endothelial cells - nitric
oxide/NO