3. Atherosclerosis
• Atherosclerosis is a specific type of
arteriosclerosis (thickening & hardening of arterial
walls) affecting primarily the intima of large and
medium-sized muscular arteries.
Chronic inflammatory response in the walls of
arteries.
Slowly progressive.
A build-up of fat (cholesterol) within the artery
wall.
Characterized by intimal lesions called:
atheromas, atheromatous or plaquesLOGMAN 3
6. 6
Atherosclerosis
OTHER RISK FACTORS ARE
1 OBESITY
2 PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
3 STRESS
4 POSTMENOPOUSAL ESTROGEN DEFICIENCY
5 High Cholesterol
6 HIGH CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE
7 CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIA
LOGMAN
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Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
According to injury hypothesis
considers
atherosclerosis to be a chronic
inflammatory Response of the
arterial wall initiated by injury:
LOGMAN
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Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
1 chronic endothelial injury
2 insudation of lipoproteins [LDL]
3 modification of lipoproteins by
oxidation
4 adhesion of blood monocytes
5 adhesion of platelets
LOGMAN
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Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
6 migration of smooth muscle cells
from the media into the intima
7 proliferation of smooth muscle cells
in the intima
8 enhanced accumulation of intra and
extra cellular lipids
LOGMAN
10. Endothelial cell Monocyte Macrophage Foam cell Smooth muscle
cell
Internal elastic
lamina
Vessel lumen
1. Endothelial
permeability
4. SMC
migration2. Monocyte
adhesion and
transmigration
Increased stiffness
3. Macrophage
transformation
into foam cells
The major cellular events in the
progression of atherosclerosis
11. 11
ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE
The change of the large arterial
intima is called atherosclerotic plaque
or atheroma
atherosclerotic plaque is the intimal
thickening with lipid accumulation
It consists of fibrous cap, necrotic core
and fibrous basis.
LOGMAN
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atherosclerotic plaque
It has three principle components:
1 cells –smooth muscle cells, macrophages
other leukocytes
2 Extra cellular matrix- collagen, elastic fibers,
proteoglycans
3 Intra cellular and extra cellular lipids
LOGMAN
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There are two types of atherosclerotic
plaque
vulnerable
stable
atherosclerotic plaque
LOGMAN
14. Clinical Classification of Atherosclerosis
Pre-clinical (asymptomatic) period
Clinical period
– Ischemic stage
– Necrotic stage
– Sclerotic stage
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15. Clinical Manifestations
The clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis depend on the
vessels involved and the extent of vessel obstruction.
Atherosclerotic lesions produce their effects through:
– narrowing of the vessel and production of ischemia;
– sudden vessel obstruction caused by plaque hemorrhage or
rupture;
– thrombosis and formation of emboli resulting from damage
to the vessel endothelium;
In larger vessels such as the aorta, the important complications
are those of thrombus formation and weakening of the vessel
wall.
In medium-size arteries such as the coronary and cerebral
arteries, ischemia and infarction caused by vessel occlusion are
more common.
Although atherosclerosis can affect any organ or tissue, the
arteries supplying the heart, brain, kidneys, lower extremities,
and small intestine are most frequently involved.
LOGMAN 15
18. 18
RENAL FORM OF
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Acute form may be as
infarction
Chronic form is called
Atherosclerotic
Nephrosclerosis or
Primary contracted
kidney
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Intestinal form of atherosclerosis
Acute form may be as
gangrenous necrosis
of the intestine
Chronic form may be
as ischemic
enterocolitis
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Extremity form of atherosclerosis
Acute form may be as gangrenous
necrosis.
LOGMAN
21. Diagnostic Approaches in
Atherosclerosis
Gold standard of diagnosis –
angiography (X-ray, CT or MRI
techniques)
Electron-beam CT – “coronary calcium
score” – assessment for total plaque
burden
Doppler ulstrasound – used to detect
renal or carotid lesions, assessment of
intima-media thickness .
IVUS – unique information on plaque
structure, volume and area
Angioscopy – mostly used in scientific
studies
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22. Prevention of Atherosclerosis and its
Complications
Dietary modification: restriction of cholesterol (<200
mg/day), sat fats; DASH-type eating plan; dietary sodium
restriction.
TG elevation: restriction of plain carbohydrates, total fat
and total calories; refrain from alcohol
Body mass decrease and increase aerobic physical activity
Smoking cessation.
Hypertension treatment.
Control of diabetes.
Low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg/day) is indicated in patients
at high risk. It acts as antiaggregant and prevents clot
formation on the plaque
LOGMAN 22