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Atherometric system: morphometric standardized methodology to study atherosclerosis and its consequences
J E Fernández-Britto1, P V Carlevaro
1Department of Pathology, Dr. C. J. Finlay Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Finlay-Albarran, Higher Institute of Medical Science of Havana, Cuba.
Insights
This study introduces the atherometric system (AS), a novel method for quantifying atherosclerosis severity using arterial and organ damage variables. The AS enables standardized morphometric analysis for disease investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Medical Imaging
- Biophysics
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a complex disease with significant consequences.
- Standardized methods are needed to accurately characterize arterial and organ damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel standardized morphometric methodology, the atherometric system (AS).
- To enable detailed pathomorphological, pathogenetic, statistical, and epidemiological investigations of atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Developed the atherometric system (AS) by integrating biophysical and mathematical analyses of arterial and organ-related variables.
- Classified AS variables into descriptives (arterial lesions, organ damage volumes) and weighting indices (obstruction, stenosis, benignity).
- Utilized a digitizer and personal computer for data acquisition, processed with SPSS statistical software.
Main Results:
- The AS provides a 3-dimensional vector representation for different atherosclerotic lesion types (fatty streak, fibrous plaque, severe plaque).
- Weighting indices derived from AS variables quantify atherosclerosis severity and organ damage.
- The methodology allows for the analysis of fibrosis, necrosis, and hemorrhage in affected organs.
Conclusions:
- The atherometric system (AS) offers a standardized and comprehensive approach to studying atherosclerosis.
- AS facilitates in-depth investigations into the disease's characteristics, progression, and impact on organs.
- This methodology supports advanced statistical and epidemiological research in cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
A group of strong mutual dependent variables, obtained by measuring some morphological and pathomorphological characteristics of an artery affected by atherosclerosis (arterial variables) and its organ-related damage (organ-related variables DRV), yield a suitable methodology to study and characterize this disease and its further severe consequences. Applying some biophysical (rheological, geometrical, and haemodynamical) and mathematical reasonings to those measurements an atherometric system AS is derived. It is a new standardized morphometric methodology which allows, by the use of their variables, the development of useful pathomorphological, pathogenetical, statistical, and epidemiological investigations. The variables of the AS are divided into 1. descriptives and 2. weighting indices WI to estimate the severity of atherosclerosis. The descriptive arterial variables were obtained from each type of atherosclerotic lesion AL, fatty streak, fibrous plaque, and severe (complicated and calcified) plaques, latter normalize and further represented in a 3-dimensional vector, in order to conserve all the analytical information of each type of AL. Their WI are obstruction, stenosis, and benignity. The descriptives DRV (estimated volumes) and their respectively derived WI, are in relation with the pathological conditions: fibrosis, necrosis, haemoŕrhage, total damage, and their counterpart non-affected (sufficient) variables. A digitizer coupled to a personal computer LTEL (Cuba) to obtain the primary data was used. All data were processed in a computer EC-1040 (G.D.R.) using the statistical commercial package "SPSS" for scientific analysis.