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Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
06:43

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus

Published on: December 7, 2013

Characteristics of coronary microvascular lesions in autopsied elderly with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy

Xiaoying Li1, Rui Li, Wen Yu

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

Chinese Medical Journal
|July 23, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Coronary microvascular lesions (CML) in elderly hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy show increased arteriole density and wall-to-cavity ratio. These changes, particularly the increased ratio, are typical in essential hypertension and may cause myocardial ischemia.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Pathology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is common in the elderly.
  • Coronary microvascular lesions (CML) may contribute to cardiac dysfunction in LVH.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize CML in elderly autopsied cases with LVH.
  • To compare CML characteristics among essential hypertension (EHT), coronary heart disease (CHD), and diabetes (NIDDM) groups, all with LVH.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 206 elderly cases with LVH (EHT, CHD, NIDDM) and 30 controls.
  • Quantitative analysis of arteriole density (AD), arteriole wall-to-cavity ratio (RWC), capillary density (CD), and endothelial cell area (AEC) using microscopy and image analysis.
  • LVH severity graded from 0 to III.

Main Results:

  • In EHT groups, LVH progression correlated with increased AD and RWC, and decreased CD and AEC.
  • CHD group showed increased AD but no significant changes in other parameters.
  • NIDDM group exhibited increased AD, decreased CD and AEC, with minimal change in RWC.

Conclusions:

  • EHT with LVH shows characteristic CML with increased AD and RWC, decreased CD and AEC.
  • Increased RWC is a typical finding in EHT groups compared to CHD and NIDDM.
  • Damaged CML may impair coronary flow reserve and lead to myocardial ischemia in EHT with LVH.
Abstract

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