Autopsy Studies in Atherosclerosis

Abstract

The distribution and severity of gross atherosclerosis at autopsy in 153 patients dying with morphologic evidence of atherosclerotic catastrophe in the heart, aorta, or brain were compared with that in 347 "noncatastrophic" patients. This study used a grading system for atherosclerosis that included consideration of both the extent and severity of intimal involvement. The study groups contained 78 males and 28 females with catastrophes in the heart, 26 males and 10 females with catastrophes in the aorta, and 20 males and 20 females with catastrophes in the brain. A significantly larger proportion of men had vascular catastrophes than did women. However, there was no sex difference demonstrated in the distribution and severity of atherosclerosis.