A number of exciting new developments have occurred during the last few years concerning the platelet-vessel wall interaction. Although they may be obvious and clear to the specialist in the field, for the clinician the area has become rather confusing. Time has come to review current knowledge on the pathophysiology of the platelet-vessel wall interaction and show how this knowledge can constitute the rationale for pharmacotherapeutic interventions. A symposium was organized in Antwerp during which a number of outstanding speakers gave an overview of what is new on a particular topic and how this information can be translated to possible clinical applications. The proceedings of the symposium are not only of interest to the practising physician, but contain enough new fundamental data to be of use for all those who are interested in the role of platelets in the etiopathogenes ofcardiovascular diseases. Arnold G. Herman Antwerp, July 1-991 vii ListofContributors A.G. Herman DepartmentofPharmaceutical Sciences M.R. Buchanan University Hospital DepartmentofPathology Universiteitsplein I McMaster Clinic B-261O ANTWERP (Wilrijk) Hamilton General Hospital Belgium 237 Barton Street East HAMILTON, Ontario G. Homstra Canada L8L 2X2 DepartmentofHuman Biology UniversityofLimburg Co-author: SJ. Brister P.O. Box 616 6200MD MAASTRICHT J.-P. Cazenave The Netherlands Regional Centre ofBlood Transfusion 10, Rue Spielmann J.F. Martin F-67085 STRASBOURG Cedex Department ofMedicine France King's College School ofMedicine and Dentistry Co-authors: C. Gachet and F. Lanza LONDON SE5 9PE U.K.