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Histological and histochemical studies on local coronary wall thickenings (cushions) in Finnish children who died violently
Author(s) -
Raekallio JYRKI,
Hirvonen JORMA,
Laaksonen HANNU,
MÖTtÖNen MATTI,
Nikkari TAPIO,
Pesonen ERKKI,
YlÄHerttuala SEPPO,
ÅKerblom HANS K.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1990.tb01013.x
Subject(s) - coronary arteries , succinate dehydrogenase , acid phosphatase , esterase , anatomy , myocardial infarction , glycosaminoglycan , medicine , pathology , enzyme , cardiology , chemistry , biochemistry , artery
Coronary arteries of 93 clinically healthy Finnish children of both sexes were collected from successive, medicolegal autopsies of victims of violent death. In the histological and histochemical study, local, cushion‐type thickenings of the coronary walls were demonstrable in 47, i.e. 50 per cent, of the children, the occurrence increasing with age. The most prominent change was the splitting of the internal elastic membrane and the accumulation of smooth muscle cells, forming a new, musculo‐elastic layer. Glycosaminoglycans appeared in the luminal parts of the thickenings. There was an average decrease in the succinate dehydrogenase reaction in the cushion area, implying a degenerative process. The increase in the reaction of “injury markers”, acid phosphatase and esterase based on the increase of cells rich in these enzymes, indicated pathologic process. It was concluded that change of this kind, demonstrable early in childhood, may dispose coronary arteries to atherosclerosis.