Hypertension and cerebral atherosclerosis.

This study consisted of an analysis of autopsy material from 3,824 persons who were 30 years of age or older in whom the arterial circle of Willis was scored for the severity and extent of atherosclerosis. Several criteria were used for hypertension. These consisted of the heart weight, the clinical diagnosis of hypertension, and the blood pressure. Regardless of which criterion was used, a definite increase in the severity of atherosclerosis of the circle of Willis was noted in the presence of hypertension. The increase was most pronounced when clinical criteria were used.