Abstract

FERNANDEZ-BRITTO RODRIGUEZ, José E  and  INVESTIGACION MULTINACIONAL DE LA OMS/FISC (1986-1996). et al. Aterosclerosis en la juventud: I. Patomorfología y Morfometría según edad y sexo, utilizando el Sistema Aterométrico. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 1998, vol.17, n.2, pp. 128-142. ISSN 1561-3011.

966 thoracic aortas, 947 abdominal aortas and 958 right coronary arteries were analyzed in autopsied children and young people aged 5 to 34 years from 18 countries in 5 continents, as part of a multinational research study from 1986 to 1996 organized by the World Health Organization and the International Societies Federation of Cardiology. The atherometric system, which is considered to be an ideal methodology to characterize the atherosclerotic lesion in any artery, vascular area or group of patients, was used for the pathomorphological and morphometric study of the arteries. This system allowed to detect the atherosclerotic lesions by a qualitative analysis and to measure the areas occupied by them and estimate/weigh their obstruction and intraarterial stenosis indices by the quantitative analysis. The deceased were examined by age and sex and divided into 3 age groups: 5 to 14, 15 to 24 and 25 to 34 years. The most relevant results which were confirmed by this study were: a) the atherosclerosis increases with rising age level in males and females alike.b) fatty steaks begin with the earliest age regardless of the country of origin, climate, type of food, habits and ways of life.c) the fastest progression in fatty streaks was found in people aged 15 to 24 years. d) fibrous plaques slowly occur during the second decade of life and remarkably progreses in the third decade of life. e) the severe plaques exceptionally occur before the 30 years-old age and from that moment on, the slowly develop.

Keywords : ATHEROSCLEROSIS [pathology]; AORTA, ABDOMINAL [pathology]; AORTA, THORACIC [pathology]; CORONARY VESSELS [pathology]; AUTOPSY; AGE FACTORS; SEX.

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