OBSERVATIONS ON ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF THE CORONARY ARTERIES IN MALES UNDER THE AGE OF 46: A NECROPSY STUDY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOMATOTYPES

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Abstract
The degree of coronary atherosclerosis was studied in 111 consecutive necropsies in white males under the age of 46. 38 of these died suddenly and unexpectedly from coronary artery disease, while the remaining 73 died suddenly from sudden, unexpected, violent death. Of the 38 consecutive deaths from coronary artery disease, 24 were dominant mesomorphs, 3 were dominant ectomorphs, 3 were dominant endomorphs and 8 were a mixed somatotype. No significant relationships were noted between those with coronary artery disease and their occupation, or their ethnic groups. The major anatomic finding in these deaths from coronary artery disease was simple sclerotic narrowing with varying degrees of obstruction. Unusual findings were thrombi or myocardial infarcts. Inflammation of the coronary arteries as a basis for the later development of sclerosis was encountered only once. No significant relationship was noted between the onset of the fatal attack and activity just prior to this, nor was there any correlation to the time of the day or season of the year. In the 73 apparently healthy white males under the age of 46 who died from violent means, the degree of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries was definitely greater in the dominant mesomorphs than in the dominant ectomorphs. One-half of these apparently healthy young males between the ages of 36 and 46 had anatomically significant coronary atherosclerosis. The bearing of this on the question of normal controls in clinical studies on cholesterol has been commented on. No relationship was noted between obesity and coronary atherosclerosis. There were no differences in heart wt. in those with coronary artery disease as compared with those with relatively uninvolved coronary arteries. No anatomic differences in the pattern of the coronary circulation were noted among the various somatotypes, nor were any noted between those with and those without coronary artery disease.