The objective of the program committee of the Fifth International Symposium on Atherosclerosis was to bring together experts in many disciplines to broaden the scope of the attack on this disease and to foster interaction. Our hope was that such interaction would accelerate the eradication of the disease. The symposium achieved that objective and con tinued the tradition of the previous symposia in providing a forum for summaries of recent research developments in the study, treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. The leading authorities and researchers in this field and in the related areas of interest have presented the newest information, concepts and ideas that have evolved in the past three years since the previous meeting in Tokyo. The most promising fields for future investigation are clearly identified, as are the nature of the controversies that persist in some highly important aspects of treatment of this disease. The appearance of these proceedings so soon after the meeting will greatly enhance the impact of the symposium on current research in atherosclerosis. The program committee is particularly indebted to the excellent response of the inves tigators for their willingness to participate in the symposium and for their successful efforts in bringing high quality to their presentations. Their cooperation in the expeditious delivery of manuscripts for this volume has been particularly gratifying. The efforts of Ms. Barbara Allen in preparing this volume bear special note."

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of death and disability in Western society. The field of atherosclerosis research has grown tremendously over the last forty years, shedding a great deal of light on the contributing factors and natural history of the disorder and enabling strategies for its treatment and prevention. Some of the greatest strides in this field in recent years have derived from advances in molecular biology techniques. These strides were chosen for emphasis in the most recent Princess Lilian symposium, whose proceedings this volume represents. Historically, the Princess Lilian meetings have been small ones aimed at bringing together investigators from diverse specialties to discuss a particular subject. The most recent meeting was no exception and included clinicians, clinical investigators, and research ers in basic science. The symposium began with an extensive review of coronary morphopathological findings in patients who died of coronary heart disease. Any rational hypothesis of atherogenesis must take into account clinical findings, and any attempt to bridge the gap between experimental laboratory findings and studies in man is highly desirable. Three chapters focus on endothelial injury: one on the nitric oxide pathway in physiology and pathology, a second on the activation of endothelial cells, and a third on the monocyte and endothelial injury. Still another chapter examines growth factors, in particular the fibroblast growth factor in atherogenesis."