Collagen fiber pathology in atherosclerotic plaques of the coronary arteries in ischemic heart disease

Abstract Structure-metabolic changes of collagen fibers (CF) in atherosclerosis plaques of the coronary arteries in the conditions of ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been studied. Segments of the coronary arteries were received from 68 men after a coronary artery bypass grafting. CF was study with using of the Van Gieson's and the Masson's methods. Histologic slices were studied by polarization microscopy. The atherosclerosis plaques with IHD were notable for lipidosis of CF. We've suspected lipidosis of CF is a crucial factor for the development of atherosclerosis plaques instability. Evident lipidosis of CF was attended with destructive changes probably resulted in accumulation of atheromatous mass in atherosclerosis plaques.