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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Ultrasound Imaging of the Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta in Mice to Determine Aneurysm Dimensions
Published on: March 8, 2019
Comparison of Genes Associated with Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Argyrios Gyftopoulos1, Bulat A Ziganshin2, John A Elefteriades2
1National Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
Aneurysms impacting the ascending thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta affect patient populations with distinct clinical characteristics. Through a literature review, this paper compares the genetic associations of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Genes related to atherosclerosis, lipid metabolism, and tumor development are associated specifically with sporadic AAA, while genes controlling extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, ECM remodeling, and tumor growth factor β function are associated with both AAA and ATAA. Contractile element genes uniquely predispose to ATAA. Aside from known syndromic connective tissue disease and poly-aneurysmal syndromes (Marfan disease, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), there is only limited genetic overlap between AAA and ATAA. The rapid advances in genotyping and bioinformatics will elucidate further the various pathways associated with the development of aneurysms affecting various parts of the aorta.
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