Composition of Human Atheroma Collected from Coronary Arteries during Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Abstract

Coronary arteries supply blood and nutrients to the heart. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) develops by narrowing of the arteries. Once the inner walls of the arteries are damaged, fatty deposits made of cells, connective tissue elements, lipids and debris decrease their lumens which block blood flow to distal tissues. This process is called arteriosclerosis. This study intends to detect the composition of human coronary atheroma collected from the arteries during bypass surgeries in Bangladesh. It shows that all lesions are present in the advanced types, namely, type 4, 5 and 6. Infrequently thrombotic materials and necrotic debris were found in type 6 plaque. The mean length of plaque was 3.36 ± 1.71 cm and mean weight was 0.13 ± 0.12 gm. Insufficient lipid was obtained from each atheroma. Few raised areas were lipid laden whereas most of the strands were fibrous. Biochemical assessment was formidable. The cholesterol composition of coronary plaque ranged between 0.20% - 9.83% with mean 3.06% ± 2.09% and total fatty acids ranged between 0.47% - 3.04% with mean 1.31% ± 0.63%. The most abundant fatty acid was oleic acid (unsaturated) closely followed by palmitic acid (saturated). The mean calcium content was 41,180.20 ± 34,918.59 ppm and ranged from 1148.00 - 140,311.00 ppm or, 0.115% - 14.031%. This study was undertaken to detect the composition of human coronary atheroma in Bangladesh which revealed that it depended upon the type of lesion.