Early inflammatory response in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Multiorgan failure is the main cause of death in patients operated for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). The systemic inflammatory response plays a central role in the generation and maintenance of multiorgan dysfunction. The aim of the current study was to investigate the inflammatory response preoperatively in patients with ruptured and nonruptured AAA in relation to the clinical outcome. A total of 95 patients about to undergo repair of AAA (43 ruptured with shock, 12 ruptured without shock, and 40 elective) and 41 controls without aneurysm matched by age, gender, and smoking habits were investigated by inflammatory markers. There were significantly higher levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6; proinflammatory cytokine) and IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine) in patients operated for ruptured compared to nonruptured AAA. In conclusion, the current data indicate that rupture of an AAA activates the inflammatory system with a compensatory anti-inflammatory response.