1989 Volume 16 Issue 8 Pages 1127-1137
Comparative studies on arteriosclerosis and phlebosclerosis had been done with 50 autopsied cases and in addition to 4 cases with long term AC bypass venous grafts, and 2 surgically obtained gallbladders with cholesterosis and 4 xanthomata of gastric mucosa, by light and electron microscopies with X ray metal analyzer, and by thin layer chromatography for lipid. Following results were obtained.
1. Intimal thickening of phlebosclerosis did not followed by risk factors of atherogenesis, but densely related with phlebothrombosis deriving from hyperbiscosity of circulating blood or disturbances of venous flow.
2. Neither electron microscopy nor thin layerr chromatography disclosed atheromatous changes; lipid accumulation of veins in any individuals.
3. Spherical paracrystal bodies often contained Ca, Fe or Zn compounds were characteristic in markedly thickened intima of veins and long term AC bypass venous grafts.
4. Fibroelastic thickening, similar to arteriosclerosis was not performed in long-term, experimental and human AC bypass venous grafts.
5. Neither ultrastructural differences nor differences with thin layer chromatography were found on the modes of each lipid accumulation in arterial atherosclerosis, atheromatous plaque of AC bypass venous grafts, xanthoma of gastric mucosa and gall bladder with cholesterosis.
We conclude that phlebosclerosis is essentially different from arteriosclerosis in promortion and progression, and its risk factors for Intimal thickening were different from the artery's. Atheromatous plaque appeared in long-term AC bypass venous grafts could not prove to be true arterialization of the vein grafts.
