[Structural basis of stenosis of the coronary arteries in atherosclerosis].

Coronary arteries of 129 patients dying at the age of 8 months to 82 years were studied. In children and adults up to 40 years a regular finding was muscular and elastic hyperplasia of the intima of different intensity at the site of which a fibrous-elastic layer was formed. Formation of the latter is one of the causes of severe stenoses of atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Thus, not only features of the atherosclerotic process but also the intensity of the fibrous-elastic layer in the intima are important in the pathogenesis of stenosis of coronary arteries.