Heterogeneity in the composition and aggregation patterns of coronary intima acid mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans).

The thickened intima of human coronary arteries included acid mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans) with a large variety of patterns of composition and aggregation. This heterogeneity, detectable with histochemical methods, was related in our material to age, branching anatomical pattern, size of vessel, collateral or terminal character of the vessel, bifurcations, intimal histology, internal elastic membrane alterations, as well as to the onset of fatty streaks, gelatinous plaques and incorporated microthrombi.