Atherosclerosis and lipid composition of the abdominal aorta. Comparison of autopsied New Orleans and Guatemalan men.
Abdominal aortas from 78 Guatemalan men and 79 New Orleans white men were examined for lipid composition and for the extent of grossly visible atherosclerotic lesions. In the specimens examined, atherosclerotic lesions were more extensive in New Orleans than in Guatemala, confirming findings of studies performed 10 and 20 years earlier. Lipid accumulation differed greatly between the geographic locations with new Orleans specimens having more chemically determined lipids. Differences in lipid accumulation between New Orleans and Guatemala are more striking when expressed in terms of content (milligrams per 100 square centimeters than when expressed as concentration (milligrams per gram of dry defatted weight). Chemical analyses indicate that lipid accumulation in the aorta results principally from the atherosclerotic process rather than from aging. In the 15- to 24-year age group, the gross extent of fatty streaks was similar in both populations, but content and concentration of free cholesterol was significantly higher in New Orleans specimens than in Guatemalan specimens. This finding might be related to the more extensive development of raised lesions at later ages in New Orleans subjects.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000032:analysis*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States
D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D002784:Cholesterol