Pharma IQ Glossary: Vascular Disease
A Vascular Disease is a form of cardiovascular disease primarily affecting the blood vessels. Vascular disease is a pathological state of large and medium sized muscular arteries and is triggered by endothelial cell dysfunction. The process causes thickening of the vessel wall, forming a plaque consisting of proliferating smooth muscle cells, macrophages and various types of lymphocytes. This plaque result in obstructed blood flow leading to diminished amounts of oxygen and nutrients that reaches the target organ. In the final stages, the plaque may also rupture causing the formation of clots, and as a result strokes.
