Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2025

A Calcium Phosphate-Induced Mouse Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Model
Published on: November 18, 2022
Abdominal aortic aneurysm and exfoliation syndrome in Utah
Ayesha Patil1, Matthew Conley2, Christian Pompoco1
1University of Utah Health John A. Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Purpose:
A pilot study of electronic medical records (EMR) in Utah was undertaken to investigate exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma (XFS/XFG) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. In a subsequent retrospective cohort study of Utah XFS/XFG patients and population controls, the risk of AAA was examined.
Methods:
EMR of a statewide healthcare population were obtained from the Utah Population Database (UPDB) which links decades of medical records with Utah demographic and vital records data. In a pilot study, 7167 patients ages ≥40 years identified with AAA diagnosed from 1996 to 2015, based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 9/10 codes, were included. A univariable hazards model was used to determine the risk of XFS/XFG in AAA patients. An XFS/XFG outcome based on ICD 9/10 codes in AAA patients and in 5:1 sex- and age-matched non-AAA controls was determined. A retrospective cohort of 3412 XFS/XFG patients ages ≥50 years diagnosed from 1996 to 2020 and 10 227 3:1 sex- and age-matched controls who underwent ≥1 dilated eye examination(s) were recently identified and updated diagnoses of AAA were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate AAA risk in XFS/XFG patients compared with controls. In a subset of XFS/XFG patients, chart reviews were conducted to confirm clinically diagnosed AAA.
Results:
In the AAA pilot, 20 patients (0.3%) and 118 controls (0.3%) developed XFS/XFG, respectively. We observed no increased risk of XFS/XFG in AAA patients compared with non-AAA-matched controls (HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.6-1.6). Among XFS/XFG study patients and controls, 122 patients (3.6%) and 376 controls (3.7%) had an AAA diagnosis. We likewise observed no increased risk of AAA in XFS/XFG patients (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.8-1.2). In 14 XFS/XFG patients with an ICD 9/10 diagnosis of AAA who underwent chart review, a clinical diagnosis of AAA was confirmed in 9 patients (64.3%).
Conclusion:
Our findings do not support an association between AAA and XFS/XFG.
Related Concept Videos
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Aneurysm I: Introduction
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's...
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

