High prevalence of cholesterol-rich atherosclerotic lesions in ancient mummies: A near-infrared spectroscopy study

Mohammad Madjid, P. Safavi-Naeini, Robert Lodder

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Computed tomography has been used previously in mummies to detect arterial calcification, which is a marker of later-stage atherosclerosis. Here, using the novel approach of near-infrared spectroscopy, we detected cholesterol-rich atherosclerotic plaques in arterial samples from ancient mummies. In this proof-of-concept study, we are the first to noninvasively detect these earlier-stage lesions in mummies from different geographical areas, suggesting that atherosclerosis has been present in humans since ancient times.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)113-116
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Heart Journal
Volume216
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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