Pub Date : 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107787
Collin S. Pryma , Md. Shahrier Amin , Charles Leduc , Cecilia Wu , Sarah M. Jenkins , Melanie C. Bois , Joseph J. Maleszewski
Regional differences in the normal histology of the ascending aorta have not been systematically studied, possibly resulting in diagnostic misinterpretation. This study aims to characterize the normal histologic spectrum of the aortic sinus (AS) and tubular aorta (TA) in a normal population. Ascending aortic specimens from 37 autopsy cases (mean age 58.7 years, range 12 to >89 years) without known aortopathy were collected prospectively. Transverse and longitudinal sections from AS and TA were stained with H&E and Verhoeff–Van Gieson. Assessed features included medial and lamellar thickness, lamellar architecture, elastic lamina number, elastic fiber waviness and organization, and features of medial degeneration. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Krippendorff’s alpha. The AS had significantly thinner media and lamellae, more woven lamellar architecture, and greater elastic fiber waviness and non-parallel organization compared to the TA. Elastic lamina number was greater in the posterior TA than AS (p < 0.0001). Pathologist agreement was moderate to satisfactory except for lamellar architecture in the left and posterior AS. No significant differences were observed between the measures with age, sex, or body mass index up to 49 kg/m2. These results provide the first systematic histologic profile of the AS and highlight key differences from the TA—several of which overlap with degenerative changes. Recognizing these normal regional variations is essential to avoid diagnostic overcalls and unnecessary intervention. Accurate specimen labeling, orientation, and sampling are critical in aortic pathology assessment.
升主动脉正常组织学的区域差异尚未系统研究,可能导致诊断误解。本研究的目的是表征正常人群的主动脉窦(AS)和管状主动脉(TA)的正常组织学谱。前瞻性地收集了37例无已知主动脉病变的尸检病例的升主动脉标本(平均年龄58.7岁,范围12 ~ 89岁)。AS和TA的横切面和纵切面用H&;E和verhoefff - van Gieson染色。评估特征包括内侧和板层厚度、板层结构、弹性板层数量、弹性纤维波纹度和组织以及内侧退变特征。使用Krippendorff的alpha来评估观察者间的一致性。与TA相比,AS具有更薄的介质和片层,更多的编织片层结构,更大的弹性纤维波浪形和非平行组织。后TA弹性椎板数目多于AS (p < 0.0001)。除了左侧和后部AS的板层结构外,病理一致性中等至令人满意。在年龄、性别或体重指数高达49 kg/m2的测量中,没有观察到显著差异。这些结果提供了AS的第一个系统组织学概况,并突出了与ta的关键差异,其中一些与退行性变化重叠。认识到这些正常的区域差异对于避免诊断过度和不必要的干预至关重要。准确的标本标记、定位和取样对主动脉病理评估至关重要。
{"title":"Variable regional histomorphology of the ascending aorta: Implications for disease classification","authors":"Collin S. Pryma , Md. Shahrier Amin , Charles Leduc , Cecilia Wu , Sarah M. Jenkins , Melanie C. Bois , Joseph J. Maleszewski","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Regional differences in the normal histology of the ascending aorta have not been systematically studied, possibly resulting in diagnostic misinterpretation. This study aims to characterize the normal histologic spectrum of the aortic sinus (AS) and tubular aorta (TA) in a normal population. Ascending aortic specimens from 37 autopsy cases (mean age 58.7 years, range 12 to >89 years) without known aortopathy were collected prospectively. Transverse and longitudinal sections from AS and TA were stained with H&E and Verhoeff–Van Gieson. Assessed features included medial and lamellar thickness, lamellar architecture, elastic lamina number, elastic fiber waviness and organization, and features of medial degeneration. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Krippendorff’s alpha. The AS had significantly thinner media and lamellae, more woven lamellar architecture, and greater elastic fiber waviness and non-parallel organization compared to the TA. Elastic lamina number was greater in the posterior TA than AS (p < 0.0001). Pathologist agreement was moderate to satisfactory except for lamellar architecture in the left and posterior AS. No significant differences were observed between the measures with age, sex, or body mass index up to 49 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. These results provide the first systematic histologic profile of the AS and highlight key differences from the TA—several of which overlap with degenerative changes. Recognizing these normal regional variations is essential to avoid diagnostic overcalls and unnecessary intervention. Accurate specimen labeling, orientation, and sampling are critical in aortic pathology assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107787"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-07DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107785
Nico Arndt , Thomas Mair , Maria Riedner , Ali Biabani , Hannah Voß , Hartmut Schlüter , Lukas Förster , Tim Knochenhauer , Marco Sachse , Martin Beyer , Maya Leonhardt , Yskert von Kodolitsch , Christian Schlein , Guido Sauter , Theresa Nauth , Shiho Naito , Evaldas Girdauskas , Hermann Reichenspurner , Christian Detter , Georg Rosenberger , Till Joscha Demal
Introduction
: Thoracic aortic aneurysms frequently go undetected until serious complications like acute dissections or ruptures arise. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential blood circulating biomarkers enabling an easy and early diagnosis of thoracic aortic disease.
Methods
: Potential biomarker candidates were identified through two different techniques, untargeted and targeted proteomic as well as extracellular vesicle (EV) analyses. The biomarker levels were compared between two patient groups with thoracic aortic aneurysms and two control groups without thoracic aortic disease. In total, 80 patients (TAA group (n = 40) vs. control group (n = 40)) were matched for untargeted and targeted proteome analysis, and 85 for EV analysis (TAA group (n = 42) vs. control group (n = 43)), based on the availability of blood samples and excised aortic tissue. Levels of biomarker candidates were correlated with aortic diameter, patient age, and histological alterations in aortic tissue using linear and logistic regression models.
Results
: The untargeted proteomic and EV analysis identified 1,037 and 1,077 proteins, respectively, of which 11 and 28 proteins showed significant differences in concentration between the study groups. Of these, 9 proteins correlated with the aortic diameter: ACTN1 (Regression coefficient B = 1.633, p < 0.001), CRP (B = 0.001, p = 0.004), TGM3 (B=-0.293, p = 0.010), KRT84 (B=-0.477, p = 0.010), IGHG3 (-0.267, p = 0.018), DPYSL2 (B = 0.644, p = 0.020), TSPAN8 (B-0.838, p = 0.042), IGKV3D-11 (B=-0.242, p = 0.046), and VDAC1 (B=-0.491, p = 0.047). Moreover, IGKV3D-11 (B=-3.257, p = 0.029), IGHG3 (B=-0.003, p = 0.034), and APOC3 (B=-2.104, p = 0.037) showed significant correlations with the grade of aortic medial layer degeneration. None of the proteins correlated with patient age.
Conclusion
: The study identified 9 biomarker candidates correlating with the aortic diameter. To enable the clinical use for diagnosis and prognostic assessment, these biomarkers need to be validated in larger external cohorts.
{"title":"Thoracic aortic diseases: Identification of diagnostic biomarkers using proteomic analysis","authors":"Nico Arndt , Thomas Mair , Maria Riedner , Ali Biabani , Hannah Voß , Hartmut Schlüter , Lukas Förster , Tim Knochenhauer , Marco Sachse , Martin Beyer , Maya Leonhardt , Yskert von Kodolitsch , Christian Schlein , Guido Sauter , Theresa Nauth , Shiho Naito , Evaldas Girdauskas , Hermann Reichenspurner , Christian Detter , Georg Rosenberger , Till Joscha Demal","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107785","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107785","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><strong>:</strong> Thoracic aortic aneurysms frequently go undetected until serious complications like acute dissections or ruptures arise. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential blood circulating biomarkers enabling an easy and early diagnosis of thoracic aortic disease.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><strong>:</strong> Potential biomarker candidates were identified through two different techniques, untargeted and targeted proteomic as well as extracellular vesicle (EV) analyses. The biomarker levels were compared between two patient groups with thoracic aortic aneurysms and two control groups without thoracic aortic disease. In total, 80 patients (TAA group (<em>n</em> = 40) vs. control group (<em>n</em> = 40)) were matched for untargeted and targeted proteome analysis, and 85 for EV analysis (TAA group (<em>n</em> = 42) vs. control group (<em>n</em> = 43)), based on the availability of blood samples and excised aortic tissue. Levels of biomarker candidates were correlated with aortic diameter, patient age, and histological alterations in aortic tissue using linear and logistic regression models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><strong>:</strong> The untargeted proteomic and EV analysis identified 1,037 and 1,077 proteins, respectively, of which 11 and 28 proteins showed significant differences in concentration between the study groups. Of these, 9 proteins correlated with the aortic diameter: ACTN1 (Regression coefficient <em>B</em> = 1.633, <em>p</em> < 0.001), CRP (<em>B</em> = 0.001, <em>p</em> = 0.004), TGM3 (<em>B</em>=-0.293, <em>p</em> = 0.010), KRT84 (<em>B</em>=-0.477, <em>p</em> = 0.010), IGHG3 (-0.267, <em>p</em> = 0.018), DPYSL2 (<em>B</em> = 0.644, <em>p</em> = 0.020), TSPAN8 (B-0.838, <em>p</em> = 0.042), IGKV3D-11 (<em>B</em>=-0.242, <em>p</em> = 0.046), and VDAC1 (<em>B</em>=-0.491, <em>p</em> = 0.047). Moreover, IGKV3D-11 (<em>B</em>=-3.257, <em>p</em> = 0.029), IGHG3 (<em>B</em>=-0.003, <em>p</em> = 0.034), and APOC3 (<em>B</em>=-2.104, <em>p</em> = 0.037) showed significant correlations with the grade of aortic medial layer degeneration. None of the proteins correlated with patient age.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><strong>:</strong> The study identified 9 biomarker candidates correlating with the aortic diameter. To enable the clinical use for diagnosis and prognostic assessment, these biomarkers need to be validated in larger external cohorts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107785"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145249875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107784
Greta Verena Freundt , Friedrich Alexander von Samson-Himmelstjerna , Jan-Thorge Nitz , Frederik Stelter , Norbert Frey , Mark Luedde , Michael R. Preusch , Hans-Jörg Hippe
Background and aims
Atherosclerosis is driven by chronic inflammation of the vascular wall, in which macrophages play a central role. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPRC5B is expressed in vascular cells and macrophages and is upregulated during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. It has been shown to activate NFκB-dependent inflammatory pathways in adipose tissue and glomeruli. Here, we investigated the impact of GPRC5B on macrophage infiltration and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque development in vivo.
Methods
Bone marrow from heterozygous GPRC5B-transgenic C57BL/6 mice and wild-type controls was transplanted into lethally irradiated LDL receptor-deficient mice. Animals were fed a Western-type diet for 16 weeks, after which atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic sinus were analyzed.
Results
Mice receiving GPRC5B-transgenic bone marrow showed no significant differences in serum lipids or cardiac mass indices. However, they exhibited significantly increased macrophage infiltration within atherosclerotic plaques and a non-significant trend toward larger and more complex lesions.
Conclusions
GPRC5B overexpression in bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage lineage cells promotes a more inflammatory plaque phenotype, characterized by enhanced macrophage infiltration. These findings highlight GPRC5B as a potential modulator of plaque progression and suggest it may represent a novel therapeutic target in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.
{"title":"The orphan receptor GPRC5B promotes macrophage infiltration and an inflammatory plaque phenotype in atherosclerosis","authors":"Greta Verena Freundt , Friedrich Alexander von Samson-Himmelstjerna , Jan-Thorge Nitz , Frederik Stelter , Norbert Frey , Mark Luedde , Michael R. Preusch , Hans-Jörg Hippe","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><div>Atherosclerosis is driven by chronic inflammation of the vascular wall, in which macrophages play a central role. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPRC5B is expressed in vascular cells and macrophages and is upregulated during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. It has been shown to activate NFκB-dependent inflammatory pathways in adipose tissue and glomeruli. Here, we investigated the impact of GPRC5B on macrophage infiltration and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque development in vivo.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Bone marrow from heterozygous GPRC5B-transgenic C57BL/6 mice and wild-type controls was transplanted into lethally irradiated LDL receptor-deficient mice. Animals were fed a Western-type diet for 16 weeks, after which atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic sinus were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mice receiving GPRC5B-transgenic bone marrow showed no significant differences in serum lipids or cardiac mass indices. However, they exhibited significantly increased macrophage infiltration within atherosclerotic plaques and a non-significant trend toward larger and more complex lesions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>GPRC5B overexpression in bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage lineage cells promotes a more inflammatory plaque phenotype, characterized by enhanced macrophage infiltration. These findings highlight GPRC5B as a potential modulator of plaque progression and suggest it may represent a novel therapeutic target in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107784"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107783
Mengxue Zhang , Yan Zhou , Chrystalle Katte Carreon , Ann Nguyen , Tiana Riley , Aliya N. Husain , Huihua Li
Background
The pathologic definition for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) includes both histopathological and immunopathological components. C4d is the most validated diagnostic marker for immunopathologic AMR; however, the clinical significance of early C4d positivity (≤1 month post-transplant) on endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) is unknown.
Methods
Patients who had ≥1 episode of C4d-positive EMB within the first month after heart transplantation were selected, the coexistence with acute cellular rejection (ACR) and the correlations of C4d positivity with histopathologic features of AMR, clinical graft dysfunction, presence of donor specific antibodies (DSAs), and clinical outcomes were examined.
Results
112 EMBs from 46 patients were qualified and included in the study. 19 patients had single C4d-positive EMB whereas 27 patients developed multiple (2-4) episodes of C4d positivity within the first month. 40 % of C4d-positive EMBs showed concurrent ACR (26 with G1R, 6 with G2R). The C4d positivity correlated well with the histopathologic AMR, with 73 % of C4d-positive EMBs showing all or partial histologic features of AMR. Only 29 % of the C4d-positive EMBs were associated with clinical graft dysfunction, indicating that most early C4d-positive EMBs were clinically asymptomatic. DSAs were found positive in 28 patients (61 %), with preformed DSAs being more common than de novo DSAs. Although no cardiac allograft vasculopathy was observed in any patient, two pediatric patients died of AMR shortly after transplantation whereas three adult patients passed away mostly because of infection.
Conclusion
Heart transplant recipients with C4d-positive EMBs within the first month post-transplant were mainly asymptomatic; combined evaluation including clinical, pathological, and serological testing should be conducted for the best management of AMR.
{"title":"Clinical significance of C4d positivity within the first month after heart transplantation in detecting antibody-mediated rejection on endomyocardial biopsies","authors":"Mengxue Zhang , Yan Zhou , Chrystalle Katte Carreon , Ann Nguyen , Tiana Riley , Aliya N. Husain , Huihua Li","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107783","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107783","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The pathologic definition for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) includes both histopathological and immunopathological components. C4d is the most validated diagnostic marker for immunopathologic AMR; however, the clinical significance of early C4d positivity (≤1 month post-transplant) on endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) is unknown.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients who had ≥1 episode of C4d-positive EMB within the first month after heart transplantation were selected, the coexistence with acute cellular rejection (ACR) and the correlations of C4d positivity with histopathologic features of AMR, clinical graft dysfunction, presence of donor specific antibodies (DSAs), and clinical outcomes were examined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>112 EMBs from 46 patients were qualified and included in the study. 19 patients had single C4d-positive EMB whereas 27 patients developed multiple (2-4) episodes of C4d positivity within the first month. 40 % of C4d-positive EMBs showed concurrent ACR (26 with G1R, 6 with G2R). The C4d positivity correlated well with the histopathologic AMR, with 73 % of C4d-positive EMBs showing all or partial histologic features of AMR. Only 29 % of the C4d-positive EMBs were associated with clinical graft dysfunction, indicating that most early C4d-positive EMBs were clinically asymptomatic. DSAs were found positive in 28 patients (61 %), with preformed DSAs being more common than de novo DSAs. Although no cardiac allograft vasculopathy was observed in any patient, two pediatric patients died of AMR shortly after transplantation whereas three adult patients passed away mostly because of infection.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Heart transplant recipients with C4d-positive EMBs within the first month post-transplant were mainly asymptomatic; combined evaluation including clinical, pathological, and serological testing should be conducted for the best management of AMR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107783"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145124274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107780
Daniela Marrone , Cristina Basso , Gaetano Thiene
Between 1705 and 1706, Rome experienced a series of sudden deaths, prompting Pope Clement XI to set up a commission to investigate the causes. Giovanni Maria Lancisi, a prominent physician, oversaw forensic autopsies and wrote “De subitaneis mortibus” (“On Sudden Deaths”, 1708), a groundbreaking treatise that examined death through a mechanistic lens, offering both theoretical and practical insights. Lancisi’s book presented life as a dynamic interaction of bodily fluids and systems, with death defined as the cessation of these movements. He proposed that sudden death is not rare but a natural endpoint when life-sustaining processes abruptly cease. The treatise identified various causes of sudden death, involving heart and vessels, and debunked fears of an ongoing epidemic in Rome. By analyzing cadaveric lesions, Lancisi demonstrated that these deaths were primarily due to pre-existing morbid conditions. His observations advanced the emerging field of pathological anatomy, applying scientific method on the study of sudden death.
1705年至1706年间,罗马经历了一系列的突发死亡事件,促使教皇克莱门特十一世成立了一个委员会来调查原因。著名医生乔瓦尼·玛丽亚·兰西西(Giovanni Maria Lancisi)监督法医尸检,并撰写了《猝死论》(De subitaneis mortibus, 1708),这是一部开创性的论文,从机械的角度审视死亡,提供了理论和实践的见解。兰西西的书将生命描述为体液和身体系统的动态相互作用,死亡被定义为这些运动的停止。他提出,猝死并不罕见,而是维持生命的过程突然停止时的自然终点。这篇论文指出了猝死的各种原因,涉及心脏和血管,并揭穿了对罗马正在流行的流行病的恐惧。通过对尸体病变的分析,Lancisi证明这些死亡主要是由于先前存在的病态状况。他的观察促进了病理解剖学这一新兴领域的发展,将科学的方法应用于猝死的研究。
{"title":"Giovanni Maria Lancisi (1654-1720) and the first historical investigation on pathology of sudden death","authors":"Daniela Marrone , Cristina Basso , Gaetano Thiene","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Between 1705 and 1706, Rome experienced a series of sudden deaths, prompting Pope Clement XI to set up a commission to investigate the causes. Giovanni Maria Lancisi, a prominent physician, oversaw forensic autopsies and wrote “De subitaneis mortibus” (“On Sudden Deaths”, 1708), a groundbreaking treatise that examined death through a mechanistic lens, offering both theoretical and practical insights. Lancisi’s book presented life as a dynamic interaction of bodily fluids and systems, with death defined as the cessation of these movements. He proposed that sudden death is not rare but a natural endpoint when life-sustaining processes abruptly cease. The treatise identified various causes of sudden death, involving heart and vessels, and debunked fears of an ongoing epidemic in Rome. By analyzing cadaveric lesions, Lancisi demonstrated that these deaths were primarily due to pre-existing morbid conditions. His observations advanced the emerging field of pathological anatomy, applying scientific method on the study of sudden death.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107780"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107781
Lauren Moran, Joseph Westaby, Mary N. Sheppard
Background and objective
Aortic regurgitation (AR) results in blood flow from the aorta back into the left ventricle, which leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation which, in a clinical setting, leads to heart failure and death. However, it is not a well-recognised cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Methods
We identified 10 cases of AR with no other cause of death from our database of 8,551 cases of SCD. All these cases had a full autopsy with negative toxicology. Diagnosis of AR was based upon the presence of prominent ridges on the edge of the aortic valve (AV) cusps with aortic root dilatation, and no significant calcification within the cusps. We measured heart weight, circumference of aortic annulus and ascending aorta, diameter of left ventricle, and circumferential left ventricle wall thickness prospectively. Cases were age and sex matched 2:1 to individuals with morphologically normal hearts with normal aortic valves.
Results
Age was 43±14 years, with 7 males and 3 females in the AR group, and 14 males and 6 females in the control group. Heart weight was significantly higher in individuals with AR compared to controls (642±200g vs 370±75g, p<0.001). All cases showed thick regurgitant ridges on the edges of all valvular leaflets macroscopically. The aortic annulus circumference (73±14mm vs 54±7mm, p<0.001) and the circumference of the ascending aorta (85±27mm vs 56±7mm, p<0.001) were significantly dilated in AR. The left ventricular cavity diameter was significantly larger in AR (52±15mm vs 30±8mm, p<0.001). There was no significant difference seen in maximal wall thickness of the left ventricle (16±6mm vs 14±2mm, p=0.068). 7 out of 10 AR cases had bicuspid aortic valves (70%) while two were rheumatic and one just had a dilated aorta. Microscopically, left ventricular fibrosis was seen in 7 of the AR cases (70%).
Discussion
AR is a rare cause of SCD, most commonly associated with bicuspid aortic valve. It can be recognised by prominent ridges on the AV cusps and/or thickening of the cusp free margin with aortic annular dilatation. It is only considered significant as a cause of death when found with increased heart weight, left ventricular dilatation, and/or ventricular fibrosis in the absence of other cardiac pathology. We demonstrate that there is a strong association between BAV, AR and SCD. As BAV is a congenital condition, clinical or surgical intervention could potentially prevent subsequent cardiac enlargement and fibrosis, thereby preventing SCD.
背景和目的:主动脉反流(AR)导致血液从主动脉流回左心室,导致左心室肥厚和扩张,在临床环境中,导致心力衰竭和死亡。然而,它不是一个公认的心源性猝死(SCD)的原因。方法:我们从8,551例SCD的数据库中确定了10例无其他死因的AR。所有这些病例都经过了完整的尸检毒理学检测呈阴性。诊断AR的依据是主动脉瓣(AV)瓣尖边缘出现突出的隆起,主动脉根部扩张,瓣尖内无明显钙化。我们前瞻性地测量了心脏重量、主动脉环和升主动脉周长、左心室直径和左心室周壁厚度。病例的年龄和性别与形态学正常的心脏和主动脉瓣正常的个体匹配2:1。结果:年龄43±14岁,AR组男性7人,女性3人,对照组男性14人,女性6人。AR患者的心脏重量明显高于对照组(642±200g vs 370±75g)。讨论:AR是SCD的罕见病因,最常与二尖瓣主动脉瓣相关。它可以通过房室尖上突出的隆起和/或无尖缘增厚伴主动脉环扩张来识别。只有在没有其他心脏病理的情况下,伴有心脏重量增加、左心室扩张和/或心室纤维化时,才被认为是重要的死亡原因。我们证明了BAV、AR和SCD之间有很强的相关性。由于BAV是一种先天性疾病,临床或手术干预可以潜在地预防随后的心脏扩大和纤维化,从而预防SCD。
{"title":"Aortic regurgitation as a cause of sudden cardiac death with aortic and left ventricular remodelling - the role of the bicuspid valve","authors":"Lauren Moran, Joseph Westaby, Mary N. Sheppard","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objective</h3><div>Aortic regurgitation (AR) results in blood flow from the aorta back into the left ventricle, which leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation which, in a clinical setting, leads to heart failure and death. However, it is not a well-recognised cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We identified 10 cases of AR with no other cause of death from our database of 8,551 cases of SCD. All these cases had a full autopsy with negative toxicology. Diagnosis of AR was based upon the presence of prominent ridges on the edge of the aortic valve (AV) cusps with aortic root dilatation, and no significant calcification within the cusps. We measured heart weight, circumference of aortic annulus and ascending aorta, diameter of left ventricle, and circumferential left ventricle wall thickness prospectively. Cases were age and sex matched 2:1 to individuals with morphologically normal hearts with normal aortic valves.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Age was 43±14 years, with 7 males and 3 females in the AR group, and 14 males and 6 females in the control group. Heart weight was significantly higher in individuals with AR compared to controls (642±200g vs 370±75g, p<0.001). All cases showed thick regurgitant ridges on the edges of all valvular leaflets macroscopically. The aortic annulus circumference (73±14mm vs 54±7mm, p<0.001) and the circumference of the ascending aorta (85±27mm vs 56±7mm, p<0.001) were significantly dilated in AR. The left ventricular cavity diameter was significantly larger in AR (52±15mm vs 30±8mm, p<0.001). There was no significant difference seen in maximal wall thickness of the left ventricle (16±6mm vs 14±2mm, p=0.068). 7 out of 10 AR cases had bicuspid aortic valves (70%) while two were rheumatic and one just had a dilated aorta. Microscopically, left ventricular fibrosis was seen in 7 of the AR cases (70%).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>AR is a rare cause of SCD, most commonly associated with bicuspid aortic valve. It can be recognised by prominent ridges on the AV cusps and/or thickening of the cusp free margin with aortic annular dilatation. It is only considered significant as a cause of death when found with increased heart weight, left ventricular dilatation, and/or ventricular fibrosis in the absence of other cardiac pathology. We demonstrate that there is a strong association between BAV, AR and SCD. As BAV is a congenital condition, clinical or surgical intervention could potentially prevent subsequent cardiac enlargement and fibrosis, thereby preventing SCD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107781"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145102646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107782
Jan M. Federspiel , Jan-Christian Reil , Peter H. Schmidt , Paul Teping , Frank Ramsthaler , Tanja Schwab , Hans-Joachim Schäfers
Aortic valve (AV) malformation and AV malfunction have been linked to aortic wall degeneration. Studies concomitantly assessing AV morphology, AV function, age, ascending aortic dilatation, and aortic biomechanical properties are lacking. This exploratory study aims to close this gap. Surgical samples of the ascending aorta (n=102) were histologically assessed. Based on echocardiographic studies, the elastic modulus (slope stress-strain curve) was calculated. Patient characteristics were collected from the patient charts. Samples obtained during autopsy (n=10) served as reference for the microscopic analysis. The patient characteristics, structural aortic wall changes, and biomechanical wall properties were statistically explored using comparative analyses and a Spearman correlation matrix. Marked medial degeneration was found significantly earlier in life for unicuspid AV morphology compared to bicuspid and tricuspid AV. Significantly fewer lamellar units and thinner aortic walls were found in surgical samples compared to the reference group regardless of AV morphology, AV function, age, and aortic dilatation. Adventitial structural impairment was associated with stiffer aortic walls. Hints were found that AV morphology (rather than AV function, age, and presence/absence of aortic dilatation) affects structural and functional ascending aortic wall properties. Additionally, the observations suggest more advanced aortic degeneration in association with unicuspid AV, underpin the need for non-surgical control samples in surgical pathological studies, and highlight the importance of the adventitial layer for aortic biomechanics.
{"title":"Aortic valve morphology rather than aortic valve function, aortic dilatation, and age interferes with ascending aortic structural and biomechanical properties","authors":"Jan M. Federspiel , Jan-Christian Reil , Peter H. Schmidt , Paul Teping , Frank Ramsthaler , Tanja Schwab , Hans-Joachim Schäfers","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107782","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107782","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aortic valve (AV) malformation and AV malfunction have been linked to aortic wall degeneration. Studies concomitantly assessing AV morphology, AV function, age, ascending aortic dilatation, and aortic biomechanical properties are lacking. This exploratory study aims to close this gap. Surgical samples of the ascending aorta (n=102) were histologically assessed. Based on echocardiographic studies, the elastic modulus (slope stress-strain curve) was calculated. Patient characteristics were collected from the patient charts. Samples obtained during autopsy (n=10) served as reference for the microscopic analysis. The patient characteristics, structural aortic wall changes, and biomechanical wall properties were statistically explored using comparative analyses and a Spearman correlation matrix. Marked medial degeneration was found significantly earlier in life for unicuspid AV morphology compared to bicuspid and tricuspid AV. Significantly fewer lamellar units and thinner aortic walls were found in surgical samples compared to the reference group regardless of AV morphology, AV function, age, and aortic dilatation. Adventitial structural impairment was associated with stiffer aortic walls. Hints were found that AV morphology (rather than AV function, age, and presence/absence of aortic dilatation) affects structural and functional ascending aortic wall properties. Additionally, the observations suggest more advanced aortic degeneration in association with unicuspid AV, underpin the need for non-surgical control samples in surgical pathological studies, and highlight the importance of the adventitial layer for aortic biomechanics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107782"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145102644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107779
David S. Katzianer , Deborah H. Kwon , Maran Thamilarasan , J. Emanuel Finet , Wael Jaber , Milind Desai , Nicholas Smedira , E. Rene Rodriguez , Carmela D. Tan , Mazen Hanna
Background
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) share the phenotypic characteristic of increased left ventricular wall thickness and, while more common with HCM, both conditions can result in dynamic left ventricular outflow (LVOT) obstruction. We sought to examine the incidence of amyloid deposition in myectomy specimens at a high-volume center for surgical myectomy and describe the pathologic characteristics and patient population.
Methods and Results
We reviewed the surgical myectomy database at our institution and found a total of 27 of 3,292 (0.8 %) with cardiac amyloidosis on pathologic examination of myectomy specimens. Many of these had preoperative imaging features consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with asymmetric hypertrophy and LVOT obstructive physiology.
Conclusion
Nearly 1 % of patients referred for surgical myectomy were found to have unexpected amyloid deposits on pathologic examination. Recognition of this finding, although very infrequent, is important for long-term management of these patients.
{"title":"Prevalence of amyloid deposition in patients undergoing surgical myectomy for presumed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy","authors":"David S. Katzianer , Deborah H. Kwon , Maran Thamilarasan , J. Emanuel Finet , Wael Jaber , Milind Desai , Nicholas Smedira , E. Rene Rodriguez , Carmela D. Tan , Mazen Hanna","doi":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107779","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carpath.2025.107779","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) share the phenotypic characteristic of increased left ventricular wall thickness and, while more common with HCM, both conditions can result in dynamic left ventricular outflow (LVOT) obstruction. We sought to examine the incidence of amyloid deposition in myectomy specimens at a high-volume center for surgical myectomy and describe the pathologic characteristics and patient population.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Results</h3><div>We reviewed the surgical myectomy database at our institution and found a total of 27 of 3,292 (0.8 %) with cardiac amyloidosis on pathologic examination of myectomy specimens. Many of these had preoperative imaging features consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with asymmetric hypertrophy and LVOT obstructive physiology.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Nearly 1 % of patients referred for surgical myectomy were found to have unexpected amyloid deposits on pathologic examination. Recognition of this finding, although very infrequent, is important for long-term management of these patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9451,"journal":{"name":"Cardiovascular Pathology","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 107779"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}