Ak. Charles et Ga. Gresham, HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN VENOUS GRAFTS AND IN VARICOSE AND NONVARICOSE VEINS, Journal of Clinical Pathology, 46(7), 1993, pp. 603-606
Aims-To examine veins histologically from different sites in the body
to study the effect of venous pressure; and to examine veins used as a
ortocoronary grafts. Methods-The axillary vein, femoral vein at the in
guinal ligament, the short saphenous vein at the knee and the long sap
henous vein at the ankle were removed from 24 necropsy cases of patien
ts aged 2 months to 80 years. Fifteen varicose saphenous veins and 12
aortocoronary grafts removed at surgery were obtained. All were examin
ed histologically. Results-Varying degrees of intimal thickening compo
sed of collagen, elastin, and smooth muscle were found. These changes
were most noticeable in the varicose veins. Intimal changes were also
seen related to valves and to adjacent arteries. No clinically relevan
t lipid was seen in the native veins, though atheromatous changes were
seen in the grafts. Conclusions-Venous changes are related to venous
pressure, to local haemodynamic effects, and probably to hypoxia. The
changes are often focal and seem to be sequential in their formation.
True atheroma is seen in the aortocoronary grafts but is not seen in n
ative veins and this may be the result of additional factors.