ABSTRACT

Depending on fast increase of aged population, Atherosc-lerosis has continued to project its currency. In this study, it was aimed to determinate atherosclerosis frequency among per-sons subjects that had been send for data have been evaluated medicolegal autopsy and whether autopsy findings have reflec-ted general medical knowledge or not.

In 182 cases whose medicolegal autopsies were performed by our department in 2002-2003, coronery arteries, removed aorta and brain basillary arteries were evaluated from the point of view of the atherosclerosis retrospectivly. Furthermore ; sex, age, cause of death and residential district of case were re-gistered. Statistical comparasions were done.

In our research while we have determined statistically sig-nificant relation between sex and frequency of atherom plaque existence both in aorta (p<.05) and coronary arteries.We have not determined significance between sex and existence of athe-rom plaque. In the brain basillary arteries (p>0.05) in general atherom plaque was observed at most in outward parts in aorta. In the contrary atherom plaque development was rare in brain basillary arteries. On the other hand, it has been determi-ned that as age increases, especially over 40, frequency of athe-rom plaque existence if increasing meaningfully. In general while the atherom existence in brain basillary arteries is 11.8% this rate is 28.8% in over 40, in coronary arteries ; atherom pla-que existence rate is 40.1% and it is 66.2% in over 40. similary in aorta atherom plaque existence determined as % 49.1, this ra-te increases % 71.6 in over 40. It has been determined that the-re is a positive correlation between existence of atherom plaque in aorta and coronary arteries in average level (r:0.69, p<0.001). We have also determined a low level positive corre-lation ( r:0.38, p<0.001) between atherom plaque existence in coronaries and aorta. In our research we have not determined a statistical relation among residental district, death style and fre-quence of atherom plaque existence.

It has been seen that obtained findings have supported common medical knowledge for society.

Keywords: Autopsy, atherosclerosis, brain, coronary ar-teries, aorta.