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RESEARCH PRODUCT

The Mode of Calcification in Atherosclerotic Lesions

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Calcific deposits in atherosclerotic plaques are usually considered to be an end stage of advanced atheroma formation. Postmortem studies of coronary arteries showed that pronounced atherosclerotic calcifications are strongly associated with stenosis of the involved segments and ischemic myocardial lesions (Eggen et al. 1965; McCarthy and Palmer 1974). A close correlation has also been found between calcific lesions detected by fluoroscopy or cinefluorography and clinical coronary artery disease (Oliver et al. 1964; Wartburton et al. 1968). Therefore, arterial calcification detected during life may be of important prognostic significance. Moreover, larger calcific plaques may influence the further development of atherosclerotic lesions and be, therefore, of a considerable pathogenetic interest.