Review of Current Theories for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Pathogenesis

Vascular ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 253-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Nordon ◽  
Robert J. Hinchliffe ◽  
Peter J. Holt ◽  
Ian M. Loftus ◽  
Matthew M. Thompson

Atherosclerotic plaques are a feature of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Atherosclerosis and AAA appear to share similar risk factors. These observations have led to the conclusion that AAAs are a consequence of advanced atherosclerosis. This review explores current theories regarding the pathogenesis of AAA and their implications for treatment. A systematic literature search was conducted using the search terms abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, pathogenesis, and systemic disease. Articles were categorized according to the association of AAAs with atherosclerosis, arteriomegaly, peripheral aneurysm, systemic expression, genetics, autoimmunity, oxidative stress, and systemic disease. Twenty-nine articles reporting changes in the systemic vasculature associated with AAA and 12 articles examining the shared risk factor hypothesis were identified. There is insufficient evidence to confirm that AAAs are the result of advanced atherosclerosis. The bulk of evidence points to AAA disease being a systemic disease of the vasculature, with a predetermined genetic susceptibility leading to a phenotype governed by environmental factors.

VASA ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diehm ◽  
Schmidli ◽  
Dai-Do ◽  
Baumgartner

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal condition with risk of rupture increasing as maximum AAA diameter increases. It is agreed upon that open surgical or endovascular treatment is indicated if maximum AAA diameter exceeds 5 to 5.5cm. Continuing aneurysmal degeneration of aortoiliac arteries accounts for significant morbidity, especially in patients undergoing endovascular AAA repair. Purpose of this review is to give an overview of the current evidence of medical treatment of AAA and describe prospects of potential pharmacological approaches towards prevention of aneurysmal degeneration of small AAAs and to highlight possible adjunctive medical treatment approaches after open surgical or endovascular AAA therapy.


VASA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstanze Stoberock ◽  
Tilo Kölbel ◽  
Gülsen Atlihan ◽  
Eike Sebastian Debus ◽  
Nikolaos Tsilimparis ◽  
...  

Abstract. This article analyses if and to what extent gender differences exist in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) therapy. For this purpose Medline (PubMed) was searched from January 1999 to January 2018. Keywords were: “abdominal aortic aneurysm”, “gender”, “prevalence”, “EVAR”, and “open surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysm”. Regardless of open or endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, women have a higher rate of complications and longer hospitalizations compared to men. The majority of studies showed that women have a lower survival rate for surgical and endovascular treatment of abdominal aneurysms after both elective and emergency interventions. Women receive less surgical/interventional and protective medical treatment. Women seem to have a higher risk of rupture, a lower survival rate in AAA, and a higher rate of complications, regardless of endovascular or open treatment. The gender differences may be due to a higher age of women at diagnosis and therapy associated with higher comorbidity, but also because of genetic, hormonal, anatomical, biological, and socio-cultural differences. Strategies for treatment in female patients must be further defined to optimize outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianying Deng ◽  
Wei Liu

Abstract Introduction Total thoracic–abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare disease in cardiovascular surgery, with high surgical risk and high mortality. Surgery is considered the most effective treatment for total aortic aneurysms. Case presentation Our group admitted a 60-year-old female patients with asymptomatic complex total thoracic–abdominal aortic aneurysm, and successfully performed two-staged surgery, namely Bentall + Sun’s operation in the first-stage and thoracoabdominal aortic replacement in the second-stage. The results of the surgery were satisfactory. Conclusions Patients with total thoracic–abdominal aortic aneurysm may not have typical clinical symptoms and require a careful and comprehensive physical examination and related auxiliary examinations by clinicians. Staged repair of total thoracic–abdominal aortic aneurysms is still a safe and effective treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yohei Kawatani ◽  
Yoshitsugu Nakamura ◽  
Yujiro Hayashi ◽  
Tetsuyoshi Taneichi ◽  
Yujiro Ito ◽  
...  

Infectious abdominal aortic aneurysms often present with abdominal and lower back pain, but prolonged fever may be the only symptom. Infectious abdominal aortic aneurysms initially presenting with meningitis are extremely rare; there are no reports of their successful treatment. Cases withStreptococcus pneumoniaeas the causative bacteria are even rarer with a higher mortality rate than those caused by other bacteria. We present the case of a 65-year-old man with lower limb weakness and back pain. Examination revealed fever and neck stiffness. Cerebrospinal fluid showed leukocytosis and low glucose levels. The patient was diagnosed with meningitis and bacteremia caused byStreptococcus pneumoniaeand treated with antibiotics. Fever, inflammatory response, and neurologic findings showed improvement. However, abdominal computed tomography revealed an aneurysm not present on admission. Antibiotics were continued, and a rifampicin soaked artificial vascular graft was implanted. Tissue cultures showed no bacteria, and histological findings indicated inflammation with high leukocyte levels. There were no postoperative complications or neurologic abnormalities. Physical examination, blood tests, and computed tomography confirmed there was no relapse over the following 13 months. This is the first reported case of survival of a patient with an infectious abdominal aortic aneurysm initially presenting with meningitis caused byStreptococcus pneumoniae.


2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 10-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lazar Davidovic ◽  
Momcilo Colic ◽  
Igor Koncar ◽  
Dejan Markovic ◽  
Dusan Kostic ◽  
...  

Introduction. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been introduced into clinical practice at the beginning of the 90's of the last century. Because of economic, political and social problems during the last 25 years, the introduction of this procedure in Serbia was not possible. Objective. The aim of this study was to present preliminary experiences and results of the Clinic for Vascular Surgery of the Serbian Clinical Centre in Belgrade in endovascular treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods. The procedure was performed in 33 patients (3 female and 30 male), aged from 42 to 83 years. Ten patients had a descending thoracic aorta aneurysm (three atherosclerotic, four traumatic - three chronic and one acute as a part of polytrauma, one dissected, two penetrated atherosclerotic ulcers), while 23 patients had the abdominal aortic aneurysm, one ruptured and two isolated iliac artery aneurysms. The indications for EVAR were isthmic aneurismal localisation, aged over 80 years and associated comorbidity (cardiac, pulmonary and cerebrovasular diseases, previous thoracotomy or multiple laparotomies associated with abdominal infection, idiopatic thrombocitopaenia). All of these patients had three or more risk factors. The diagnosis was established using duplex ultrasonography, angiography and MSCT. In the case of thoracic aneurysm, a Medtronic-Valiant? endovascular stent graft was implanted, while for the abdominal aortic aneurysm Medtronic-Talent? endovascular stent grafts with delivery systems were used. In three patients, following EVAR a surgical repair of the femoral artery aneurysm was performed, and in another three patients femoro-femoral cross over bypass followed implantation of aortouniiliac stent graft. Results. During procedure and follow-up period (mean 1.6 years), there were: one death, one conversion, one endoleak type 1, six patients with endoleak type 2 that disappeared during the follow-up period, one early graft thrombosis. No other complications, including aneurysm expansion, collapse, deformity and migration of the endovascular stent grafts, were registered. Conclusion. According to all medical and economic aspects, we recommend EVAR to treat acute traumatic thoracic aortic aneurysm, as well as in elderly and high-risk patients with abdominal or thoracic aneurysms, when open surgery is related to a significantly higher mortality and morbidity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott M Groves ◽  
Mahdi Khoshchehreh ◽  
Christine Le ◽  
Shaista Malik

The Effects of Weekend Admission on the Outcomes and Management of Ruptured Aortic Aneurysms Objective: Ruptured aortic aneurysm is a condition with a high rate of mortality that requires prompt surgical intervention. It has been noted that in some conditions requiting such prompt intervention, in-hospital mortality is increased in patients admitted on the weekends as compared to patients admitted on weekdays. We sought to determine if this was indeed the case for both ruptured thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm and elucidate the possible reasons. Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a publicly available database of inpatient care, we analyzed the incidence of mortality among patients admitted on the weekends compared to weekdays for ruptured aortic aneurysm. Ultimately the care of over 7,000 patients was analyzed for the primary endpoints. We adjusted for demographics, comorbid conditions, hospital characteristics, rates of surgical intervention, timing of surgical intervention and use of additional therapeutic measures. Results: Patients admitted on the weekend for both ruptured thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm had a statistically significant increase in mortality as compared to those admitted on the weekdays (OR 2.55 for Thoracic and 1.32 for Abdominal). By our analysis this is likely due to a delay in surgical care on the weekends. Conclusions: Weekend admission for ruptured aortic aneurysm is associated with an increased mortality when compared to those admitted on the weekend and this is likely due to several factors with the most predominant being a delay in surgical intervention.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Talha Ijaz ◽  
Hong Sun ◽  
Adrian Recinos ◽  
Ronald G Tilton ◽  
Allan R Brasier

Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a devastating disease since it can lead to aortic rupture and instantaneous death. We previously demonstrated that IL-6 secreted from the aortic wall is necessary for the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD). Since IL-6 is a NF-kB/RelA dependant gene, we investigated the role of aortic wall- NF-kB/RelA signaling in the development of AAD. Methods and Results: To test the role of aortic wall-RelA, we utilized Cre-Lox technology to delete RelA from aortic cells. Tamoxifen-inducible, Col1a2-promoter driven Cre mice (Col1a2-Cre) were crossed with mT/mG Cre-reporter mice to determine which aortic cells undergo genetic recombination after Cre activation. Flow cytometry analysis of the aortic wall indicated that 88% of the genetically recombined cells were SMCs and 8% were fibroblasts. Next, RelA floxed (RelA f/f) mice, generated in our lab, were crossed with Col1a2-Cre mice. RelA f/f Cre+ and RelA f/f Cre- were stimulated with tamoxifen for 10 days to generate aortic-RelA deficient (Ao-RelA-/-) or wild-type (Ao-RelA+/+) transgenics. Flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry analysis suggested a depletion of aortic-RelA greater than 60%. To test the role of Ao-RelA in AAD, Ao-RelA -/- (n= 20) and Ao-RelA +/+ (n=14) mice were infused with angiotensin II for 7 days. Surprisingly, 20% of Ao-RelA-/- mice died from development of AAD and aortic rupture while no deaths were observed in Ao-RelA+/+ group. In addition, 40% of Ao-RelA-/- mice developed AAD compared to 14% of Ao-RelA+/+ mice. There was no significant difference in TUNEL staining or ERTR7+ fibroblast population between the two groups. Conclusion: Our studies suggest that aortic wall-RelA may be necessary for protection from AAD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 430-434
Author(s):  
Ian Peate

This is the second article in a series of articles regarding screening programmes. In this article, an overview of the abdominal aorta is provided. The article also considers the abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme. Aortic abdominal aneurysm is described. The majority of abdominal aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic; however, if there are any symptoms, these are explained. All four UK countries offer men aged 65 years and over a screening opportunity using an ultrasound scan, the fundamental aspects of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programmes is offered. It is emphasised that screening is not mandatory in the UK; the man has a right to decline the invitation to attend any screening programme.


Vascular ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erasmo S da Silva ◽  
Vitor C Gornati ◽  
Ivan B Casella ◽  
Ricardo Aun ◽  
Andre EV Estenssoro ◽  
...  

Objective To analyze the characteristics of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms referred to a tertiary center and to compare with individuals with abdominal aortic aneurysm found at necropsy. Methods We have retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 556 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and 102 cases abdominal aortic aneurysm found at necropsy. Results At univariated analysis, hypertension, tobacco use and maximum diameter were significant risk factors for symptomatic aneurysm, while diabetes tended to be a protective factor for rupture. By logistic regression analysis, the largest transverse diameter was the only one significantly associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture ( p < .0001, odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.481–1.951). Intact abdominal aortic aneurysm found at necropsy showed similarities with outpatients in relation to abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter and risk factors. Conclusion Intact abdominal aortic aneurysm at necropsy and at outpatients setting showed similarities that confirmed that abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is less offered to women, and they died more frequently with intact abdominal aortic aneurysm from other causes.


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