PATTERN OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL: A 1 YEAR AUTOPSY STUDY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerosis and its complications were previously thought to be rare
in Africans. This trend is however changing with westernisation of our life style. Many
studies on alteration of the integrity of blood vessels with age and sex are based on radiologic
examinations. Regional differences in atherosclerotic lesions using multiple blood vessels are
rarely studied hence the need for this autopsy study.
AIM: This study will assess the patterns of atherosclerotic lesions in autopsy cases in
University of Benin Teaching Hospital and also related findings to age, sex, heart size and
premorbid state using multiple blood vessels.
METHDOLOGY: This was a prospective study of all autopsy cases of individuals who
were above 14 years, over a period of one year, from June 2012 to May 2013 in the
University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Cerebral vessels, abdominal aorta and coronary
arteries were examined and atherosclerosis thereof was graded according to American Heart
Association classification.
RESULTS: A total of 606 blood vessels were examined in 202 autopsies. The lesions
frequently encountered in the abdominal aorta were type III (36.6%) and type V (36.1%). The
circle of Willis type I (39.6%) and type IV (27.2%). The coronary arteries were mainly
affected by type I and II both accounting for 40.6%. The abdominal aorta had more advanced
lesions (63.5%) than the circle of Willis (35.9%) and coronary arteries (0.6%). There was
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strong association between hypertension, diabetes, cardiomegaly with atherosclerosis
(p=0.0001).
CONCLUSSION: Atherosclerosis is a common finding though coronary heart disease is
uncommon as only 1 case was seen out of the 202 autopsied cases in this study. There is a
need for similar work to be done in Nigeria as the examination of multiple blood vessels in
the same individual in this environment is rare.