Hormones, Cholesterol, and Coronary Atherosclerosis

Various hormones have been shown to play an important role in lipid metabolism. Clinical and experimental observations implicate the thyroid, adrenal, gonadal, and pituitary glands in atherogenesis. The evidence is strongest that estrogens play a role in human atherosclerosis. The influence of hypothyroidism requires further study and clarification. Hormones and lipids are obviously not the only factors important in atherogenesis; hypertension, local tissue factors, and altered intravascular coagulation in all probability significantly influence the natural history of the disease.