Atherosclerosis involving the cerebral and coronary vessels: A comparative analysis

Patients with ischemic heart diseases are more likely to have stroke than those without and ischemic heart disease is a frequent cause of death among stroke survivors. The risk factors for both are the same. We compared the atherosclerotic pathology in the cerebral, coronary and carotid vessels. A total of 50 autopsy cases were selected for the Baker scoring system The median Baker score ranged was 26.1 in our study. All cases showing severe atherosclerosis of the intracranial vessels were compared with the coronary arteries and the carotid arteries. The percentage of luminal stenosis, severity of stenosis, pattern of narrowing, composition (Fibrous, Fibrofatty, Fatty), inflammation-type and location, calcification, thinning of the vessel wall, microaneurysm formation, thrombus, intraplaque haemorrhage and neovascularisation was documented in detail in cases. Of the 14 cases showing severe intracranial atherosclerosis most also showed severe coronary atherosclerosis but mild carotid atherosclerosis. Infarcts were seen in 7 cases and all had history of hypertension.