Abstract
Ageing of the blood vessel is defined as the agerelated structural and functional changes of the blood vessel. These include distension, or kinking of the wall of the blood vessel and increased stiffness of the blood vessel wall. These age-related change are frequently associated with arteriosclerosis. Both phenomena are similar and closely correlated in terms of pathogenetic mechanism. Morphologically, age-related changes in the artery are usually characterized as degenerative changes of smooth muscle cells associated with the deposition of collagen fibers and the fragmentation of elastic fibers. Research on this topic so far is reviewed and the clinical significance of these agerelated changes of artery is discussed. Reevaluation of an anti-atherosclerotic drug Elaszyme which has been classified as a hypocholesterolemic drug is also included.
