Histological and ultrastructural features of atherosclerosis in progeria

This histological and ultrastructural study of a limited amount of vascular tissue from a progeric woman of 20 years who died of traumatic subdural he morrhage supports the belief that the vascular changes are atherosclerotic. The unusual features observed were collagen fibrils with a relatively smal l diameter in the atherosclerotic intima and media, extensive loss of mural smooth muscle cells particularly in the aorta, and widespread contraction bands in smooth muscle cells in vascular and nonvascular tissues. Smooth mu scle cells appear to be unusually susceptible to hemodynamic and ischemic s tress. Further autopsy studies are required to elucidate the etiology and p athogenesis of this unique disease. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.