Histopathological Differences Between the Anterior and Posterior Brain Arteries as a Function of Aging.
Title | Histopathological Differences Between the Anterior and Posterior Brain Arteries as a Function of Aging. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Authors | Roth, W, Morgello, S, Goldman, J, Mohr, JP, Elkind, MSV, Marshall, RS, Gutierrez, J |
Journal | Stroke |
Volume | 48 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 638-644 |
Date Published | 2017 03 |
ISSN | 1524-4628 |
Keywords | Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Arteries, Autopsy, Brain, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Young Adult |
Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We tested the hypothesis that posterior brain arteries differ pathologically from anterior brain arteries and that this difference varies with age.METHODS: Brain large arteries from 194 autopsied individuals (mean age 56±17 years, 63% men, 25% nonwhite, 17% with brain infarcts) were analyzed to obtain the areas of arterial layers and lumen as well as the relative content of elastin, collagen, and amyloid. Visual rating was used to determine the prevalence of atheroma, calcification, , pattern of intima thickening, and internal elastic lamina gaps. We used multilevel models adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, vascular risk factors, artery type and location, and multiple comparisons.RESULTS: Of 1362 large artery segments, 5% had vasa vasorum, 5% had calcifications, 15% had concentric intimal thickening, and 11% had atheromas. Posterior brain arteries had thinner walls, less elastin, and more concentric intima thickening than anterior brain arteries. Compared to anterior brain arteries, the basilar artery had higher arterial area encircled by the internal elastic lamina, whereas the vertebral arteries had higher prevalence of elastin loss, concentric intima thickening, and nonatherosclerotic stenosis. In younger individuals, vertebral artery calcifications were more likely than calcification in anterior brain arteries, but this difference attenuated with age.CONCLUSIONS: Posterior brain arteries differ pathologically from anterior brain arteries in the degree of wall thickening, elastin loss, and concentric intimal thickening. |
DOI | 10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015630 |
Alternate Journal | Stroke |
PubMed ID | 28196941 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC5330785 |
Grant List | R01 MH064168 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States U24 MH100931 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States HHSN271201300028C / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States P50 AG008702 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R25 MH080663 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States U01 MH083501 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States |