Is tissue copper deficiency associated with aortic aneurysms?

It has been suggested that patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms are deficient in tissue copper. Levels of copper and zinc in liver and aortic wall were therefore measured in 11 patients with aortic aneurysms and 11 fresh cadavers with normal aortas. The concentrations of copper were similar in both groups. Zinc concentration was higher in the normal aortic wall, probably because of the greater thickness of the media in the normal aorta. We found no evidence that aortic aneurysms are associated with reduced tissue copper concentrations.