Arcus Senilis

Abstract

The relationship between arcus senilis (gerontoxon, arcus lipoides, arcus juvenilis) and atherosclerosis has been in question for many years. As far back as 100 years ago, pathologists felt that there was some association between arcus senilis and diseases of the heart and vascular system. White ( 1935),¹ on the basis of physical examinations, mental examination, laboratory studies, and postmortem studies of 400 mental patients concluded that there was not an increased incidence of arteriosclerosis or senility in patients with arcus senilis. Forsius² quotes Rintelen (1942) as finding no increased incidence of arteriosclerosis in patients with arcus senilis during 600 postmortem examinations. On the other hand, Boas (1945)³ concluded after examining 1,000 consecutive patients in office practice that there was a definite correlation between arcus senilis and coronary artery sclerosis. Finley et al (1961)⁴ found that in 20 young white subjects with arcus sinilis the following characteristics were