Morphology and Incidence of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Subclavian Arteries - A Human Autopsy Study

Abstract

Objective: To assess different morphological categories of atherosclerotic lesions and their incidence in relation to age and sex in our population 

Study Design: Prospective descriptive observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Mortuary of King Edward Medical University Lahore and Department of Pathology Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore and completed in one and a half year from

Material and Methods: A total of 30 human autopsies were carried out at random. The age range was between
8 and 85 years. Right and Left subclavian arteries were taken out from dead bodies. They were opened lengthwise. One to four areas of tissue were taken from each artery in all cases. Section were prepared from paraffin blocks. They were stain with Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. Special stains were also performed to differentiate all the components of atherosclerotic lesions. 

Results: The fibrolipid plaques were seen in 13 cases in the right subclavian artery and 13 cases in left subclavian artery. The complicated lesions were seen in 8 cases in the right subclavian artery and 9 cases in the left subclavian artery. 6 of these 8 cases showed ulceration in the right subclavian artery and 2 showed intimal vascularization and haemorrhage alongwith thrombus formation. In the left subclavian artery the ulceration was seen in 7 cases and intimal vascularization and haemorrhage in 2 cases alongwith thrombus formation. The calcified lesions were present in 7 cases in the right subclavian artery and 8 cases in the left subclavian artery. The morphological changes in media and elastics were seen in 7 cases in right subclavian artery and 8 cases in left subclavian artery.

Conclusion: In this study different atherosclerotic lesions are categorized and their relation to age and sex is appreciated in our population. This study is although is preliminary but gives basic and useful data about the incidence of ischemic changes in upper limbs due to raised atherosclerotic lesions in subclavian arteries.