Aterosclerose na artéria carótida interna direita e esquerda associada ao envelhecimento no encéfalo de autopsiados

Abstract

Atherosclerosis can result in serious injury and tend to worsen over time and among these injuries are cerebrovascular diseases that are responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality in the world population. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the progressive accumulation of cholesterol in the intimal layer of the wall of the large and medium-sized arteries, leading to the formation of plaques that can obstruct the lumen of the arteries. Atherosclerosis generally does not constitute a cause of death, however, it acts as a factor responsible for cardiovascular disease. Several factors are related to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The objective was to quantify, through morphometric method, the percentage of elastic and collagen fibers of the internal carotid arteries, according to age, the intensity of atherosclerosis and the cause of death. The samples of the carotid arteries were obtained from autopsies performed at the Hospital of the Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba - Minas Gerais, from 1997 to 2009. The data of the selected patients such as age and cause of death were obtained from reports autopsies. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed with atherosclerosis slide stained with hematoxylin and eosin, examined in ordinary light microscope with a 20x objective. The quantification of elastic fibers was performed by Verhoeff staining, examined with a final magnification of 620x. Quantification of collagen fibers was held at the stained slide by Picrosirius, examined under polarized light, with final increase of 620x. The analysis was performed by the morphometry LeicaQWin Plus® software. Statistical analysis was performed using the software GraphpadPrism 6:05. The group of patients older than 50 years had increased intensity of atherosclerosis, as analyzed semi-quantitatively, but without significant difference. In the relationship between the group of patients older than 50 years and increasing age, there was a negative and significant correlation of elastic fibers in the internal carotid arteries and the higher the younger the amount of elastic fibers in the analyzed fields. In the relationship between the group of patients older than 50 years and increasing age, there was a positive and no significant correlation between the percentage of collagen fibers in the internal carotid arteries, ie, the higher the age, the greater the amount of collagen fibers in the analyzed fields. Patients with cardiovascular cause of death had a greater amount of collagen fibers in the internal carotid arteries, but without significant difference. The elastic fibers and collagen fibers were influenced by increasing age. The age may be a determining factor in the development of the morphological changes observed in the internal carotid arteries studied the aging process. As the cause of cardiovascular death.