Comparison between Antemortem PWV Values and Postmortem Tissues

-in Relation to Atherome, Calcification, and Intimo-Medial Elastin and Collagen-

Abstract

Studies on the usefulness of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) method, a non-invasive diagnostic method of arteriosclerosis have been published so far by the authors, and in this study the authors aimed at clarifying how tissue impairments due to arteriosclerosis influence PWV values by comparisons of antemortem PWV values with aortic tissues. Subjects were aorta of 30 patients; 18 males and 12 females of 24-82 years of age whose antemortem PWV values were determined and autopsy was made. Areas occupied by atheroma and calcification were determined by the point counting method, and the amounts of intimomedial elastin and collagen, by the microspectrophotometric procedure for comparison with PWV values. Intimal atheroma and calcification appeared from level of PWV 8m/sec. and 9m/sec., respectively. A PWV elevation coupled with an increase in collagen amount were found while the amount of elastin remained unchanged in the intima. In the media, PWV showed high values along with a decrease in elastin and collagen amounts.