The internal elastic lamina in the basilar artery and its possible significance for intimal thickening. A...

The degree of intimal thickening, folding of the internal elastic lamina (IEL) and luminal radius/wall thickness ratio (RWR) have been compared between predilectional sites and a non-predilectional site for atherosclerosis in human basilar arteries. The findings are compatible with the hypothesis that a low degree of folding and a high RWR facilitate intimal thickening. A negative correlation between the fold index and intimal thickening index and a positive correlation between RWR index and intimal thickening index were found. Predilectional areas also have lower fold indices and higher RWR in younger subjects prior to any intimal thickening development.