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Abdominal aortic aneurysm: a general defect in the vasculature with focal manifestations in the abdominal aorta?

Sonesson, Björn LU ; Hansen, Flemming and Länne, Toste (1997) In Journal of Vascular Surgery 26(2). p.247-254
Abstract
PURPOSE: It has been suggested that abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) develop as a result of an alteration in the systemic connective tissue metabolism. This might change wall mechanics and diameter, not only in the AAA but also in the rest of the vascular system. This hypothesis was tested by studying the mechanical properties of AAAs as well as the common carotid artery (CCA) in the same patient population. METHODS: AAA and carotid artery stiffness (beta) was studied in 121 individuals (101 men, 20 women) who were admitted for elective repair of AAA. Stiffness (beta) was calculated from diameter and pulsatile diameter change determined noninvasively from an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory... (More)
PURPOSE: It has been suggested that abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) develop as a result of an alteration in the systemic connective tissue metabolism. This might change wall mechanics and diameter, not only in the AAA but also in the rest of the vascular system. This hypothesis was tested by studying the mechanical properties of AAAs as well as the common carotid artery (CCA) in the same patient population. METHODS: AAA and carotid artery stiffness (beta) was studied in 121 individuals (101 men, 20 women) who were admitted for elective repair of AAA. Stiffness (beta) was calculated from diameter and pulsatile diameter change determined noninvasively from an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory method. The results were compared with those of healthy individuals of corresponding age and gender published elsewhere. RESULTS: The stiffness of the AAA was increased in both men and women (p = 0.0001). The increase was more pronounced in women compared with men (p = 0.0003) to a mean of 435% and 189% of the normal predicted values, respectively. In the CCA, the stiffness was increased in men (p = 0.027) and in women (p = 0.0001) to a mean of 131% and 149% of the normal predicted values, respectively. A significant correlation between stiffness in the aneurysm and in the carotid artery was seen (p = 0.0031). The carotid diameter was unchanged in men (p = 0.924) and in women (p = 0.070) if adjusted for the difference in blood pressure between the individuals with AAAs and control subjects. There was no correlation between stiffness and diameter of the aneurysm in men (r = 0.16, p = 0.119) nor in women (r = 0.12, p = 0.598). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrated altered mechanical properties of the aneurysmal wall as well as in the CCA in individuals with AAAs. The normal age- and gender-related differences seen in the healthy aorta and CCA vanished. The results suggest that AAA is a generalized process of the vasculature with focal manifestation in the abdominal aorta. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Vascular Surgery
volume
26
issue
2
pages
247 - 254
publisher
Mosby-Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:9279311
  • scopus:0030811638
ISSN
1097-6809
DOI
10.1016/S0741-5214(97)70185-X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Emergency medicine/Medicine/Surgery (013240200)
id
7951c0be-a405-4df3-bdc8-aee57a666079 (old id 1112259)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:04:35
date last changed
2022-01-28 17:06:19
@article{7951c0be-a405-4df3-bdc8-aee57a666079,
  abstract     = {{PURPOSE: It has been suggested that abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) develop as a result of an alteration in the systemic connective tissue metabolism. This might change wall mechanics and diameter, not only in the AAA but also in the rest of the vascular system. This hypothesis was tested by studying the mechanical properties of AAAs as well as the common carotid artery (CCA) in the same patient population. METHODS: AAA and carotid artery stiffness (beta) was studied in 121 individuals (101 men, 20 women) who were admitted for elective repair of AAA. Stiffness (beta) was calculated from diameter and pulsatile diameter change determined noninvasively from an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory method. The results were compared with those of healthy individuals of corresponding age and gender published elsewhere. RESULTS: The stiffness of the AAA was increased in both men and women (p = 0.0001). The increase was more pronounced in women compared with men (p = 0.0003) to a mean of 435% and 189% of the normal predicted values, respectively. In the CCA, the stiffness was increased in men (p = 0.027) and in women (p = 0.0001) to a mean of 131% and 149% of the normal predicted values, respectively. A significant correlation between stiffness in the aneurysm and in the carotid artery was seen (p = 0.0031). The carotid diameter was unchanged in men (p = 0.924) and in women (p = 0.070) if adjusted for the difference in blood pressure between the individuals with AAAs and control subjects. There was no correlation between stiffness and diameter of the aneurysm in men (r = 0.16, p = 0.119) nor in women (r = 0.12, p = 0.598). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrated altered mechanical properties of the aneurysmal wall as well as in the CCA in individuals with AAAs. The normal age- and gender-related differences seen in the healthy aorta and CCA vanished. The results suggest that AAA is a generalized process of the vasculature with focal manifestation in the abdominal aorta.}},
  author       = {{Sonesson, Björn and Hansen, Flemming and Länne, Toste}},
  issn         = {{1097-6809}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{247--254}},
  publisher    = {{Mosby-Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Vascular Surgery}},
  title        = {{Abdominal aortic aneurysm: a general defect in the vasculature with focal manifestations in the abdominal aorta?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0741-5214(97)70185-X}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0741-5214(97)70185-X}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{1997}},
}