title: Correlation of lifetime progress of atherosclerosis and morphologic markers of severity in humans: new tools for a more sensitive evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the morphological features of atherosclerosis in the aortas of autopsied patients (ranging from young adults to the elderly), thus providing new tools for a more sensitive morphological evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected 141 aorta samples. We assessed the macroscopic degree of atherosclerosis, thickness of the intima and media, lipid and collagen depositions in the intima, and the infiltration of mast cells into the layers of the aorta. We correlated the findings with gender, age, race and cause of death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of atherosclerosis was significantly higher in the elderly. The aorta was thicker in the elderly and in cases with a cardiovascular cause of death. The thickness of the intima was significantly greater in the elderly, in males and in cases with a cardiovascular cause of death. The lipid content in the intima of the aorta was significantly higher in Caucasians. Older people and men had a significantly higher number of mast cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A macroscopic evaluation is a good indicator of the severity of atherosclerosis, but a more detailed analysis, namely evaluating the thickness of the layers of the aorta and the number of mast cells, may further elucidate the changes in the constituents of this vessel.
authors.affiliation: Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mara Lúcia da Fonseca
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Douglas Montielle Silva
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: João Paulo Hanel
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rorato
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Espindula
authors.forename: Lívia Ferreira
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Luciana Santos
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.forename: Maria Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Camila Lourencine
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cavellani
authors.forename: Flávia Aparecida
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Sanívia Aparecida de Lima
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Rosana Rosa Miranda
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Vicente de Paula Antunes
authors.initials: Vde P
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002423:Cause of Death; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003094:Collagen