Birefringent crystals deposition and inflammasome expression in human atheroma plaques by levels of uricemia.

Objective: To verify the monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition in artery walls following a structure assessment and to assess NLRP3 inflammasome expression in human atheroma plaques by levels of uricemia.

Methods: Patients with peripheral arterial disease who were candidates for amputation were recruited and classified as normouricemic or hyperuricemic. During surgery, an artery segment from the amputated limb was sampled, divided and fixed separately by cryo-embedding, 100% ethanol or Glyo-fixx.