Specific features of aortic wall calcification in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm

Histological assessment of calcification patterns in different sites of ascending aorta in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm has been performed using alizarin red S staining. Biopsy specimens from 67 patients (47 males, 20 females, mean age 56,9 +/- 11,1 years) with thoracic aortic aneurysm from three different sites of ascending aorta were taken intraoperatively. Calcium content in aorta was calculated as the percentage of positively stained area using FiJi. Statistical data processing was performed using JASP 0.17.2.1. Calcific precipitates were diffusely distributed mainly in the tunica media of the vessel. The mean calcium percentage was: for the sinotubular junction (zone 1) - 7.85 [2.2; 15.4]%, mid-ascending aorta (zone 2) - 10.45 [3.83; 22.35]%, proximal aortic arch (zone 3) - 10.95 [4.65; 18.63]% (p=0.216). Patients with maximum calcification level in zone 3 were younger (53 [41; 62] years) than patients in whom the maximum calcification was detected in zone 2 (60 [55.25; 65] years) and zone 1 (64 [58; 68] years, p=0.035).