Is plaque formation in the common carotid artery representative for plaque formation and luminal stenosis in other atherosclerotic peripheral arteries? A post mortem study

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 1998-03, Vol.137 (1), p.205-210
• Main Authors: Pasterkamp, Gerard, Schoneveld, Arjan H., Hillen, Berend, Banga, Jan Dirk, Haudenschild, Christian C., Borst, Cornelius
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arteries - pathology; Arteriosclerosis - pathology; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Autopsy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Carotid Artery, Common - pathology; Carotid Stenosis - pathology; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Female; Femoral Artery - pathology; Humans; Iliac Artery - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Microtomy; Peripheral vascular disease; Postmortem Changes; Remodeling; Renal Artery - pathology; Stenosis; Tunica Intima - pathology; Tunica Media - pathology; Ultrasonics
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9150(97)00255-4

The atherosclerotic carotid artery is easily accessible for non-invasive duplex investigation. The aim of the present post mortem study was to examine whether plaque accumulation and luminal stenosis in the common carotid artery is representative for atherosclerotic plaque accumulation and luminal stenosis in other peripheral arteries. A total of 3765 cross-sections were obtained at regular intervals from 240 arteries (24 individuals). Five types of peripheral arteries were investigated: common carotid, femoral, common iliac, external iliac and renal arteries. In each cross-section, the lumen area, vessel area, plaque area and maximal plaque thickness was measured. For each location, the percentage luminal stenosis and relative plaque area was calculated. Relative plaque area was defined as the percentage of the vessel area which was occupied by plaque. Weak correlations ( r=0.41–0.59) were observed between percentage relative plaque area or maximal plaque thickness in the common carotid artery and percentage relative plaque area in other peripheral arteries. Neither plaque accumulation nor luminal stenosis in the common carotid artery correlated with the percentage luminal stenosis in other peripheral arteries ( P>0.05). We conclude that plaque area in the common carotid artery is weakly correlated with plaque area and not correlated with luminal stenosis in other peripheral arteries.