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Systemic dilation diathesis in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms: a role for matrix metalloproteinase-9?

L W van Laake1, T Vainas, R Dammers

  • 1Department of Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.

European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery : the Official Journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery
|March 8, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients show a systemic arterial dilation. An imbalance in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) ratio correlates with reduced aortic vessel wall distensibility and compliance in AAA.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Atherosclerosis Research
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is linked to a systemic arterial dilating condition.
  • Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are implicated in aneurysm pathogenesis.
  • Investigating plasma MMP/TIMP levels may reveal associations with systemic arterial dilation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine mechanical vessel wall properties in non-affected arteries of patients with AAA.
  • To compare these properties with patients suffering from aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AOD).
  • To correlate vessel wall properties with plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized ultrasonography to measure common carotid artery (CCA) and suprarenal aorta (SA) dimensions in 22 AAA and 12 AOD patients.
  • Calculated arterial distensibility (DC) and compliance (CC) from measured diameters and pulse pressure.
  • Quantified plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels using specific immunoassays.

Main Results:

  • AAA patients exhibited larger CCA diameters compared to AOD patients (9.1mm vs 7.8mm).
  • No significant difference in plasma MMP-9 or TIMP-1 levels was observed between the two groups.
  • A higher MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio correlated with decreased SA distensibility (r=-0.74) and compliance (r=-0.58).

Conclusions:

  • AAA patients present with a larger CCA diameter, suggesting a systemic arterial dilation diathesis.
  • The MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio is associated with reduced mechanical properties of the suprarenal aorta.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that MMP/TIMP imbalances contribute to the systemic dilation observed in AAA.

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