Atherosclerosis research from past to present--on the track of two pathologists with opposing views, Carl von Rokitansky and Rudolf Virchow

Abstract

It is now clear that inflammation plays a key role in atherogenesis. As a matter of fact, signs of inflammation of atherosclerotic plaques have been observed for centuries and also constituted the basis for a fierce controversy in the 19th century between the prominent Austrian pathologist Carl von Rokitansky and his German counterpart, Rudolf Virchow. While the former attributed a secondary role to these inflammatory arterial changes, Virchow considered them to be of primary importance. We had the unique opportunity to address this controversy by investigating atherosclerotic specimens from autopsies performed by Carl von Rokitansky up to 178 years ago. Twelve atherosclerotic arteries originally collected between the years 1827 to 1885 were selected from the Collection Rokitansky of the Federal Museum of Pathological Anatomy, Vienna Medical University. Using modern sophisticated immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques, it was shown that various cellular intralesional components, as well as extracellular matrix proteins, were preserved in the historic atherosclerotic specimens. Most importantly, CD3 positive cells were abundant in early lesions, thus, rather supporting Virchows's view, that inflammation is an initiating factor in atherogenesis. Furthermore, we hope to have opened a new and intriguing possibility to study various pathological conditions using valuable historical specimens.