Assessment of atherosclerosis in carotid arteries and its association with cerebrovascular lesions: an autopsy study.

• Grant number: 23/02697-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Kimie Suemoto
• Grantee: Beatriz Carvalho Pontes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Carotid atherosclerosis has been associated with cerebrovascular lesions and vascular dementia in clinical and radiological studies. This project will investigate the association of atherosclerosis in carotid arteries evaluated by morphometric criteria with cerebrovascular diseases and vascular dementia, in a cross-sectional observational study with autopsy material. We will use samples collected for previous studies at the Death Verification Service of the Capital of the University of São Paulo (SVOC-USP). The neuropathological diagnosis will be based on internationally accepted criteria for classifying lacunar infarcts, hyaline atherosclerosis, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Participants will be classified according to the presence and severity of dementia using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Atheromatous plaques in carotid arteries will be classified based on atherosclerotic plaque composition and percentage of arterial occlusion.