Raman spectroscopy reveals collagen and phospholipids as major components of hyalinosis in the arteriolosclerotic ulcer of Martorell.

The present findings suggest that arteriolar hyaline deposits in hypertensive arteriolopathy are mainly composed of collagen and phospholipids, in particular phosphatidylcholine. Together with the concurrent absence of actin, these findings suggest that potentially critical disease mechanisms involve pressure-induced vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis with subsequent deposition of collagen.