An Index for the Evaluation of Arteriosclerotic Lesions in the Abdominal Aorta

Abstract

An index for the evaluation of arteriosclerotic lesions based on visual observation of selected and unselected specimens of the abdominal aorta was derived from a statistical analysis of simple grading and ranking studies. This index, I = 1/2P_T + 1/4P_F + 1/2P_C, takes cognizance of most of the grossly visible quantitative and qualitative features of human arteriosclerotic lesions. In it P_T, P_F, and P_C are the quantitative estimates of the per cent of total area diseased (T) and the per cent lesion area with fibrous plaques (F) and complicated lesions (C), respectively. The index is subjective but relatively reproducible by the same or different observers. It does not carry any implications of etiology or pathogenesis. The work of the Committee is continuing, and it is hoped that indices based on such methods may prove useful when applied to other parts of the arterial system or in studying several parts simultaneously, thus facilitating basic studies on arteriosclerosis both in man and in animals.