Histomorphological evaluation of atherosclerotic lesions in patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease

PurposePeripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is mainly caused by atherosclerosis of the vessel wall. These pathological changes are classified into different stages and are well described for carotid and coronary vessels, but not for PAOD. The aim of our study was to analyze plaque morphology of femoral arteries in patients with intermittent claudication and critical limb ischemia.Patients and methodsIn this retrospective study 85 atherosclerotic plaques (common and superficial femoral artery) of 71 patients with a clinical symptomatic PAOD were analyzed, by histology (01/2009–07/2010). Atherosclerotic lesions were classified according to Stary (type I–VIII). For further characterization, plaques were evaluated for the presence of collagen, elastin, calcifications, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, leucocytes, and cellularity.ResultsThe majority (91%) of atherosclerotic lesions were of advanced types according to Stary (V–VII). Atherosclerotic lesion type VI was associated with significant higher amount of inflammatory cells in comparison to all other atherosclerotic plaque types (CD45: p < 0.001; CD68: p = 0.013). In addition, atherosclerotic plaques with a pronounced neovascularization contained a higher amount of CD45 (p = 0.015; rho = 0.273) and CD68 (p = 0.016; rho = 0.275) positive cells.ConclusionAtherosclerotic lesions of femoral arteries show similar morphological changes as coronary or carotid arteries. But inflammatory cells had a higher impact on plaque progression and destabilization than any other factor.