Hyperplastic Arteriosclerosis Versus Atherosclerosis

This paper was stimulated by the serious need of a precise definition of the term "arteriosclerosis" as judged by the diversity of opinions expressed in recent years. Thus, a recent laborious review of many hundreds of articles on arteriosclerosis leaves one bewildered for the reason that under that eponym such different lesions as hyperplastic arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, infectious arteritis and Mönckeberg's sclerosis are included, with little or no attempt at differentiation. In another instance, a review of "arteriosclerosis" represents an excellent presentation of atherosclerosis. The necessity for a precise definition of arteriosclerosis is not merely an academic matter. Aside from the obvious advantage of inducing precision of thought, it will help to clarify many current clinical problems associated with vascular disease. In order to arrive at a correct definition of the term, it is essential to survey the problem as a whole, not only from the point of view of morphology