The content of cholesterol in arterial fragments – study of 34 cases
Journal Title: Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis - Year 2014, Vol 68, Issue 1
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is a multifactor disease. It is commonly believed that a high cholesterol level in blood plasma is the main factor which is responsible for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in arteries. Lipid molecules form not only pathological arteries, but are also part of each blood vessel as an important element of cell mem-branes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the amount of cholesterol in the arteries is correlated with the degree of atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research material consists of 34 fragments of arteries originated from the bodies of people who died a sud-den death. The samples were divided into four groups according to the severity of atherosclerosis. Cholesterol was determined using a colorimetric method with ferric chloride in concentrated phosphoric and sulfuric acid. RESULTS It was observed that the content of arterial cholesterol in the samples increased with the severity of atherosclero-sis. The arteries from persons with severe and very high intensification of the disease were characterized by high levels of cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS There is a relationship between the content of cholesterol in the blood vessel wall and the severity of atheroscle-rosis, but it is not a directly proportional rectilinear relationship due to the fact that plaques with the progression of the disease are not only enriched in lipids but also in cellular and protein components, such as monocytes, macrophages, thrombocytes, necrotic cells, extracellular matrix proteins and others. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and verify the thesis of the key role of cholesterol in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.
Authors and Affiliations
Aleksandra Kuzan, Agnieszka Chwiłkowska, Magdalena Kobielarz
Keywords
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