A Study of atherosclerotic lesions of aorta with CD4 immunostaining

Indian population is affected with atherosclerosis at younger age when compared to other ethnic groups. In this study histopathological grading of atherosclerotic lesions of the ascending aorta in archival specimens were performed with immunohistochemical marker for CD4+ cells in each grade of atherosclerosis. Mean ages of males and females in our study were 52.11±15.79 and 40.18±17.73 years respectively. The prevalence of various grades of atherosclerosis revealed, Grade 1 atherosclerosis in 4.90%, Grade 2 in 17.65%, Grade 3 in 32.35%, grade 4 in 28.43%, grade 5 in 13.73% cases. Grade 6 was the least common grade of atherosclerosis (1.96%). Immunohistochemistry for CD4+ was performed in 18 subjects with three cases each of grade 1 to 6. CD4+ was quantified higher in grade 1 and grade 2 lesions while progressive reduction in CD4+ positivity was seen in the advanced lesions.