The Incidence of Acid-Fast Pigment (Ceroid) in Aortic Atherosclerosis

Abstract

A collection of 230 aortic sections was selected at random from human autopsy material. The sections were stained by the Ziehl- Neelsen technic and examined microscopically to study the possible relationship of acid-fast lipoidal tissue substance (ceroid) to the development of atherosclerosis. 81% of the aortic sections which showed marked intimal thickening contained intimal acid-fast substance. In no instance was acid-fast substance demonstrable in the absence of intimal thickening. The incidence of acid-fast material in the vessels was directly proportional to the degree of intimal thickening.