BACKGROUND: abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) distensibility may be an independent predictor of growth and rupture, possibly because it reflects changes in aortic wall structure and composition. AIM: to determine whether AAA distensibility is related to circulating markers of elastin and collagen metabolism. METHODS: sixty-two male patients of median age (IQR) 68 (65-72) years with asymptomatic AAA of median (IQR) diameter 42 (37-45) mm were prospectively studied. Pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) and stiffness (beta) were measured using an ultrasonic echo-tracker (Diamove). Serum elastin peptides (SEP), plasma elastin-alpha1-antitrypsin complex (E-AT), procollagen III-N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: age and smoking adjusted Ep and beta were significantly inversely related to SEP (r=-0.33 and r=-0.31 respectively, both p<0.02) and E-AT (r=-0.27 and r=-0.27 respectively, both p<0.05) both of which indicate elastolysis. By contrast, there was a significant positive correlation between PIIINP, indicative of increased collagen turn-over, and both Ep and beta (both r=0.45, p<0.01 unadjusted correlations). CONCLUSION: increased elastolysis is associated with increased AAA wall distensibility; whereas increased collagen turn-over is associated with reduced distensibility.
BACKGROUND:abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) distensibility may be an independent predictor of growth and rupture, possibly because it reflects changes in aortic wall structure and composition. AIM: to determine whether AAA distensibility is related to circulating markers of elastin and collagen metabolism. METHODS: sixty-two male patients of median age (IQR) 68 (65-72) years with asymptomatic AAA of median (IQR) diameter 42 (37-45) mm were prospectively studied. Pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) and stiffness (beta) were measured using an ultrasonic echo-tracker (Diamove). Serum elastin peptides (SEP), plasma elastin-alpha1-antitrypsin complex (E-AT), procollagen III-N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: age and smoking adjusted Ep and beta were significantly inversely related to SEP (r=-0.33 and r=-0.31 respectively, both p<0.02) and E-AT (r=-0.27 and r=-0.27 respectively, both p<0.05) both of which indicate elastolysis. By contrast, there was a significant positive correlation between PIIINP, indicative of increased collagen turn-over, and both Ep and beta (both r=0.45, p<0.01 unadjusted correlations). CONCLUSION: increased elastolysis is associated with increased AAA wall distensibility; whereas increased collagen turn-over is associated with reduced distensibility.
Authors: Femke A M V I Hellenthal; Willem A Buurman; Will K W H Wodzig; Geert Willem H Schurink Journal: Nat Rev Cardiol Date: 2009-05-26 Impact factor: 32.419
Authors: Rosina De Cario; Marco Giannini; Giulia Cassioli; Ada Kura; Anna Maria Gori; Rossella Marcucci; Stefano Nistri; Guglielmina Pepe; Betti Giusti; Elena Sticchi Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2022-07-22