title: Atherometric system: morphometric standardized methodology to study atherosclerosis and its consequences.
abstract: A group of strong mutual dependent variables, obtained by measuring some morphological and pathomorphological characteristics of an artery affected by atherosclerosis (arterial variables) and its organ-related damage (organ-related variables DRV), yield a suitable methodology to study and characterize this disease and its further severe consequences. Applying some biophysical (rheological, geometrical, and haemodynamical) and mathematical reasonings to those measurements an atherometric system AS is derived. It is a new standardized morphometric methodology which allows, by the use of their variables, the development of useful pathomorphological, pathogenetical, statistical, and epidemiological investigations. The variables of the AS are divided into 1. descriptives and 2. weighting indices WI to estimate the severity of atherosclerosis. The descriptive arterial variables were obtained from each type of atherosclerotic lesion AL, fatty streak, fibrous plaque, and severe (complicated and calcified) plaques, latter normalize and further represented in a 3-dimensional vector, in order to conserve all the analytical information of each type of AL. Their WI are obstruction, stenosis, and benignity. The descriptives DRV (estimated volumes) and their respectively derived WI, are in relation with the pathological conditions: fibrosis, necrosis, haemoŕrhage, total damage, and their counterpart non-affected (sufficient) variables. A digitizer coupled to a personal computer LTEL (Cuba) to obtain the primary data was used. All data were processed in a computer EC-1040 (G.D.R.) using the statistical commercial package "SPSS" for scientific analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dr. C. J. Finlay Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Finlay-Albarran, Higher Institute of Medical Science of Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fernández-Britto
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Carlevaro
mesh_terms: D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000473:pathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D012984:Software