Atherosclerosis in relation to diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

To access the relationship of different categories of atherosclerotic lesions to diabetes mellitus and also in relation to age and sex. Prospective, Randomized and Comparative Study. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, KEMU and AIMC, Lahore from April 2006 to Dec. 2007. 130 autopsies were performed the age range was 8 to 85 years. The autopsies were done at random. Heart, aorta and its major branches were collected from dead bodies. The history of diabetes mellitus was taken from the close relatives of the deceased. The processing of cases was done in the Pathology Department of AIMC, Lahore. The slides were stained by haematoxline and eosin. Special stains also performed, The fatty streaks were present in predominant number of cases in aorta and its major branches except in the right coronary artery where they were seen less dominantly. The fibrolipid plaques, complicated and calcified lesions were present in a predominant number of cases in aorta and its major branches except the calcified lesions were present less dominantly in the thoracic aorta circumflex branch and renal arteries. The complicated lesions were not seen in the right coronary artery and calcified lesions were absent in the right coronary artery, innominate artery and superior mesenteric artery in diabetics. In the study it was concluded that there is definite relationship between diabetes mellitus and different categories of atherosclerotic lesions. The age and sex relationship of atheroscleroses is also well indicated in this study