The correlation of morphometric parameters of the arterial wall with individual risk factors for the cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Background. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of disability and mortality throughout the world. The issue of their prevention remains one of the most acute in medicine. The purpose of the research is to study the state of carotid arteries’ walls in persons of different ages and to reveal the dependence of their structural changes on cardiovascular risk factors. Materials and methods. Carotid vessels obtained from victims died in an accident (n = 106) at the age from 19 to 95 years were examined. Measurement of vascular diameters, thickness of intima, media, intima-media complex were examined. Based on the data the area of the arterial wall was calculated. The specific volume of smooth muscle cells of the middle membrane of the arteries was determined, the tortuosity coefficient of fenestrated elastic membranes was calculated. The arteries capacity was assessed. The following factors were identified as risk factors: age, gender, obesity, hyperglycemia, increased urea levels. The results were statistically processed. Results. Statistically significant differences in individual morphometric parameters of the vascular wall were revealed between the groups. Significant correlations were found between morphometric parameters and individual risk factors. Conclusions. Vascular wall remodeling can begin at a young age. Obesity affects the vascular wall only at a young age, an increase in blood urea at an older age. Hyperglycemia is a general age factor of cardiovascular risk.

Keywords

• morphometry
• arterial wall
• atherosclerosis
• arteriosclerosis
• aging