[Screening of first-degree relatives of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm]

Whereas the lethality of elective resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is 3-6%, that for ruptured cases is 75-95%. Unfortunately AAA seldom cause symptoms before rupture. As ultrasonographic screening is quick, inexpensive, and reliable, this has been suggested. First-degree relatives are reported to have a 2-4 times increased risk of AAA. Substantial benefits would be gained by population screening of 65-year-old men, particularly in the case of male first-degree relatives. Female first-degree relatives seem to have a risk similar to that of the male population, but the data are uncertain. Ruptured AAA rarely occur before the age of 60. Familial AAA do not expand faster nor are they associated with unusual locations, but they may occur earlier in life. Screening causes psychological side effects, and it could therefore be offered to male first-degree relatives from the age of 60, and be confined to ultrasonographic scanning of the infrarenal abdominal aorta at five-year intervals.