Coronary Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction An Autopsy Study

The incidence of coronary heart disease has markedly increased in India over the past few years. Ischemic heart disease, the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed and developing countries today is overwhelmingly contributed by atherosclerosis. The study highlights the impact of atherosclerotic lesions in the population of Haryana. We studied atherosclerotic lesions in coronaries in cases subjected to autopsy, to grade and to evaluate the atheromatous plaques; and to assess the cases of myocardial infarction amongst them. The study comprises dissected specimens of heart in 115 cases subjected to autopsy. The vessels were examined for the presence of atherosclerotic lesions which were graded according to American Heart Association and examined for evidence of myocardial infarction. The study comprises the cases in age group of 15 to 85 years. 46.4 % showed significant atheroma. Commonest type of atherosclerosis seen was grade-3. Triple vessel involvement was seen in 44.4% cases. Left Anterior Descending was most commonly involved artery. Myocardial infarction was the cause of death in in 3 cases (3%) while 23 showed changes of chronic ischemic heart disease. The data obtained may form a baseline for the forthcoming studies