Study of atherosclerosis in abdominal aortic aneurysms of autopsied patients

Background Any kind of change in the arterial wall as atherosclerosis, may be the etiologic agent of the formation of aneurysm in an artery. The aim of this study was to describe the morphological and morphometric characteristics of the aorta with aneurysm in autopsied patients in relation to age, gender, white and non-white patients and the aortic segment. Methods 22 samples of aorta were evaluated, from patients autopsied, grouped in 11 patients with aneurysm and 11 patients without aneurysm. Macroscopic evaluation of the intensity of atherosclerosis has been described quantitatively in centimeters. Staining were made by Picrosirius for quantification of collagen fibers. The analysis of captured images was performed by software Leica QWin Plus®. For statistical, the data were analyzed with the software GraphPad Prism®. Results There was a positive and non significant correlation between the intensity of atherosclerosis and age of the total group (rS = 0.352; p = 0.29).There was a greater intensity of atherosclerosis in relation to age in the group with aortic aneurysm (PA) (U = 26.50; p = 0.03) and higher percentage of collagen fibers (U = 31,950; p < 0.0001) when compared to the NA group. A negative correlation was observed between the percentage of collagen fibers and the intensity of atherosclerosis (rS = −0.109; p = 0.02) (PA). Conclusions The intensity of atherosclerosis presented a relation with age, feminine gender, white patients and abdominal aortic segment. The aging process is the cause of atherosclerosis, causing alterations in the arterial walls as an increase of the collagen fibers, thus favoring the appearance of vascular aneurysms.