Correlations between the atherosclerotic changes of femoral, carotid and coronary arteries: a post mortem study

Area of Science:

• Vascular Biology and Pathology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Neuropathology

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
• Atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries, is a primary risk factor for stroke.
• Understanding the distribution and correlation of atherosclerosis across different arterial beds is crucial for risk stratification and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the severity of atherosclerosis in the carotid, coronary, and femoral arteries.
• To investigate the correlation of atherosclerosis severity among these major arterial systems in autopsy findings of ischemic stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Autopsy examination of 40 ischemic stroke patients (mean age 75.2 years).
• Atherosclerotic changes were assessed and scored in the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, deep femoral artery, common femoral artery, and left anterior descending coronary artery.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations between atherosclerotic parameters in different arteries.

Main Results:

• The severity of atherosclerosis in the common carotid artery did not correlate with other investigated arteries.
• Internal carotid artery atherosclerosis correlated with femoral artery atherosclerosis (r=0.457-0.459, P=0.022-0.028).
• External carotid artery and deep femoral artery showed significant correlations with left anterior descending coronary artery atherosclerosis (r=0.458-0.513, P=0.012-0.028).

Conclusions:

• Atherosclerosis in the external carotid arteries and femoral arteries demonstrates a stronger association with coronary atherosclerosis than common carotid arteries.
• These findings suggest differential patterns of atherosclerosis progression that may have implications for understanding stroke and cardiovascular disease interplay.