Spectrum of atherosclerotic changes in deceased dying of non-cardiac cause

ABSTRACT

To study the pattern of coronary atherosclerosis in deceased of sudden death, dying of non cardiac cause. This descriptive study was carried out in the department of Histopathology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from January 2009 to January 2010. Fifty autopsy specimens from 20 to 50 years old who died of non cardiac causes and had no history of cardiac disease. Coronary arteries were removed and examined for atherosclerotic plaques. Fifty autopsy specimens of coronary atherosclerosis who had died of non cardiac cause were included in the study. All were males with a median age of 38 years, with range between 20- 55 years. Analysis in different age groups revealed that advanced atherosclerotic plaques, progressed with age reaching a maximum of 62% by the age of 31-40 years, and in the same age group number of severe atherosclerosis seen was also high [16%]. This study showed that the frequency of atherosclerotic plaque was more after third decade. The study showed that in patients with sudden cardiac death due to non ischemic causes there is high frequency of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries in people of age group of 31-40 years. Although this is an autopsy study but the significance finding found in this study can be very important to guide the clinicians in reducing the traditional risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis. This will help the early detection and treatment of such cases and may ultimately reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death