Collagen content of atherosclerotic arteries is higher in smokers than in non-smokers.

The biochemical composition of coronary endarterectomy and aortic samples obtained during 52 coronary artery bypass graft operations was analysed. The content of cholesterol or collagen relative to protein in the aorta or endarterectomy specimens did not correlate with serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, or high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, nor were there any significant differences between samples from normotensive and hypertensive patients. However, smokers had a significantly higher content of collagen in coronary endarterectomy specimens and the aorta and a higher content of cholesterol in the aorta than non-smokers.