Histological Study of Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis in Sudden Deaths

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death of women and men worldwide. CAD's impact on women traditionally has been underappreciated due to higher rates at younger ages in men. Microvascular coronary disease disproportionately affects women. It plays a crucial medico-legal role to decide the cause of sudden death whether natural or unnatural. These conditions indicate that intervention of Forensic specialist is significant to decide the actual cause of death apart from injury or disease of vital organs. So we examined the coronary arteries for atherosclerotic changes in 60 cases of sudden deaths. It was observed that there were marked intimal thickening with luminal narrowing ≤ 75% of luminal diameter in 27 cases (40%) in total hearts. In natural deaths 22 cases (81.57%) showed luminal narrowing ≤ 75% of luminal diameter. These findings are suggestive of medico legal intervention to clarify the mode of death in some instances.