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Abdominal aortic aneurysm-an independent disease to atherosclerosis?

Bradley J Toghill1, Athanasios Saratzis2, Matthew J Bown2

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and the NIHR Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK..

Cardiovascular Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology
|February 12, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are distinct diseases despite shared risk factors. Recent evidence highlights differing risk profiles, suggesting they are not solely causally linked.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are complex diseases influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
  • Atherosclerosis is a known risk factor for AAA, with comorbidity rates between 25-55%.
  • The causal relationship and shared risk profiles between atherosclerosis and AAA remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct etiological factors and risk profiles of atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).
  • To clarify the relationship between these two cardiovascular pathologies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent epidemiological, clinical, and biological evidence.
  • Analysis of genetic and epigenetic studies identifying independent risk loci.
  • Examination of cardiovascular biomarkers in AAA patients.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests atherosclerosis and AAA are more distinct than previously thought.
  • Risk factors like diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity are more associated with atherosclerosis, while smoking, gender, and ethnicity are higher risks for AAA.
  • Independent genetic risk loci and differing biomarker patterns further support distinct pathologies.

Conclusions:

  • Atherosclerosis and AAA possess distinct risk factor profiles and genetic underpinnings.
  • The association between atherosclerosis and AAA may not be solely causal, but influenced by separate risk factor constellations.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the relationship and distinct mechanisms of these diseases.

Keywords:
Abdominal aortic aneurysmAtherosclerosisCardiovascular diseaseInflammationMultifactorialPolygenic

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