Changes of the Endothelium and Extracellular Matrix in
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Revealed by Scanning Electron
Microscopic Investigations Are there Structural Parallels
to Aortic Valve Degeneration?
Volume 3 - Issue 2
Mirzaie Masoud1*, Michael Schultz2, Peter Schwartz2, Zaur Guliyev1 and Sheila Fatehpur1
- 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Lippe-Lemgo Hospital, University clinics OWL, Germany
- 2Institute for Anatomy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
Received:October 09, 2020; Published: October 19, 2020
Corresponding author: Masoud Mirzaie, Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery University Hospital of Lemgo, Germany
DOI: 10.32474/ACRR.2020.03.000159
Abstract
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Abstract
Objective: Thoracic aneurysms occur most frequently with 60% in ascending aorta and arch, und in 40% the descending
aorta, although the etiological factors are different for individual segments. While, depending on localization, factors such as
atherosclerosis, bicuspid aortic valve, familial thoracic aortic aneurysm syndrome, Turner syndrome, Marfan syndrome, aortic
arteritis in Takayasu’s arteritis, trauma and dissection lead to the formation of thoracic aortic aneurysms, the structural changes of
the basement membrane and the exact causes of the mechanism of thoracic aortic aneurysm are not known. The aim of this study
was to investigate the pathophysiological origin of thoracic aortic aneurysms from a morphological point of view.
Patients and methods: For this study, between 2007 and 2017, 12 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms with contraindications
to interventional therapy underwent open surgery. All patients underwent multi- detector row CT with three-dimensional (3D)
reformation in 3 mm slices and transesophageal echocardiography, Tissue samples were taken from descending aorta of two
female (average age, 72 .32 years) and 10 male patients (63.12 years), and were fixed for 6 hours in a solution containing 2.5%
glutaraldehyde and 0.2 mMol cacodylate. The samples were finally visualized using the digital scanning microscope.
Results: In addition to partial desquamation of the endothelium, severe alterations of the collagen fibers and basal membrane
and repair attempts in the form of endothelial islets and deep tears in the fibers, cancellation and destruction of the helical structure
of collagen fibers are visible.
Conclusion: In summary, in thoracic aortic aneurysms we found severe structural changes of collagen fibres, endothelium and
basement membrane, which occur in a similar form in acquired aortic valve degeneration.
Keywords: Thoracic aortic aneurysm, electron microscopy
Abstract|
Introduction|
Materials and methods Tissue samples|
Scanning Electron Microscopy|
Results|
Discussion|
Conclusion|
Conflict of Interest|
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