MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CORONARY AND CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES IN PATIENTS WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Aim - to study the correlation between the thickness of the fibrous cap and collagen in the coronary and carotid plaques in patients with myocardial infarction. Materials and methods. The objects of the study were 81 coronary and carotid atherosclerotic plaques obtained during autopsy study of 15 patients who died from complications of myocardial infarction. Histological and morphometric study and immunohistochemistry were performed. Immunohistochemical examination was carried out using monoclonal antibodies against collagen types II, III, IV, VI, VII. Results. There is a combination of complicated, unstable and stable coronary and carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with myocardial infarction. Unstable atherosclerotic plaque is characterized by thinning of the fibrous cap mainly in the peripheral areas and the growth of destructive changes in the collagen types III, IV and VI. Conclusion. There is a critical thinning in the caps of unstable carotid and coronary plaques in myocardial infarction with signs of disorganization of collagen, leading to decreased resistance to mechanical stress of this type of plaques.

Keywords

• atherosclerosis
• myocardial infarction
• unstable plaque
• collagen