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Author Spotlight: Development and Characterization of a Mouse Model for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: August 2, 2024
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Therapeutic Strategies for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Egle Kavaliunaite1,2, Joachim Sejr Skovbo Kristensen2,3, Sissel Scheurer4
1Cardiovascular and Renal Research Unit, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
|December 24, 2025
Summary
Repurposed drugs like statins and ARBs show promise in reducing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) size in animal models. However, research quality and standardization are crucial for translating these findings to human clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a critical condition lacking effective pharmacological treatments.
- Animal models are used to study AAA pathophysiology and drug efficacy, but clinical translation is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review repurposed drugs evaluated in animal models for their impact on AAA progression.
- To identify drug classes with potential therapeutic benefits for AAA.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 14,127 articles, including 144 studies, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Drugs classified by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes and assessed for effects on AAA diameter in animal models.
Main Results:
- Cardiovascular, metabolic, and immunomodulatory agents (e.g., statins, ARBs, metformin, rapamycin) demonstrated reduced aneurysm diameter.
- Significant heterogeneity in study models, treatment timing, and methodological limitations (e.g., lack of blinding) were observed.
- Potential publication bias may influence the predominance of positive findings.
Conclusions:
- Drugs showing efficacy after AAA initiation may hold the most clinical promise.
- Standardized, high-quality preclinical research is essential to advance AAA drug development for human trials.
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