Heterogeneity of atherosclerosis in mesenteric arteries and outgrowth remodeling.

Background: In patients with acute mesenteric ischemia by occlusive thrombo-embolism, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is more affected than the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA).

Methods: This study investigated postmortem mesenteric arteries from aged subjects (n=21). Four atherosclerotic stages were defined by signs of degeneration and inflammation in sections stained with Elastica-van-Gieson and immunohistology, respectively.