An Autopsy Study of Atherosclerotic Changes in Coronary Arteries at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is a giant killer and the incidence of atherosclerosis
in coronary arteries is rapidly increasing. The study was designed to assess the
atherosclerotic lesions in coronary artery and to correlate the risk factors related
to prevalence of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Heart from 100 medico legal autopsy cases ranging between ages
15 to 35 years which came to BPKIHS Dharan were taken for this study and
processed for coronary arteries using conventional technique. They were then
studied,and grading was done based on Modified American Heart Association
(AHA) classification of atherosclerosis.

Results: Intimal thickening was noted in more than 90% in all three coronary
arteries followed by intimal xanthoma whereas intermediate lesion for
atherosclerosis was not found. Age, gender, smoking and alcohol in relation to
atherosclerosis were found to be of no significance.

Conclusion: The study highlights the impact of atherosclerotic lesions in the
Eastern region of Nepal. Meticulous postmortem examination along with
histopathological study is the best possible way to study atherosclerotic disease
in humans and risk factors associated with it.