MEDIAL THICKNESS OF CORONARY-ARTERIES AS A CORRELATE OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

As coronary arteries grow older, they tend to acquire fibroplastic int imal thickenings. Those aging arteries that manifest the greatest fibr oplasia are typically the ones that acquire atherosclerotic plaques wi th necrotic cores (YesA arteries); this is especially so if foam cell infiltration is also extensive. The present study finds that thicker m edia also distinguishes YesA from NoA specimens. Coronary arteries obt ained at autopsy from males and females in eight populations, 16 group s altogether, were evaluated histologically for the YesA characteristi cs: intimal fibroplasia, fc,am cell infiltration, and medial thickness . The rankings of the 16 groups at ages 15-29 years persisted signific antly into ages 30-69 years when looking at intimal fibroplasia, but n ot at foam cell infiltration. Medial thickness also yielded youthful p opulation rankings that persisted into older groups, and the rankings were similar to those based on fibroplasia. Virtually all important co rrelations were obscured if intima:media ratios were employed, because the top and bottom numbers in the ratio typically move in parallel wi th each other across the meaningful group comparisons, thereby canceli ng each other. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reser ved.