Expression of Circulating MicroRNA before and after Abdominal Aneurysm Repair

Numerous studies have identified various miRNAs involved in aortic aneurysm pathology. This study investigated circulating miRNAs before and after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (open surgical repair [OSR] or endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]).

In this prospective, non-randomized, two-arm study, all eligible patients who underwent elective surgery from 2019 to 2021 for infrarenal aortic aneurysms were enrolled. Preoperative, postoperative (day 3), and follow-up serum samples (3 and 12 months) were collected. Circulating miR-29b/29c, miR-155, and miR-15a were analyzed using RT-qPCR.

A total of 39 patients (87.2% male) were enrolled (Group I: OSR, n = 17; Group II: EVAR, n = 22). There were no significant differences in the expression of circulating miR-155, miR-15a, miR-29b, or miR-29c between Groups I and II during follow-up. However, subgroup analysis showed significantly lower expression of miR-15a in EVAR patients without an endoleak compared to those with an endoleak, as well as in patients undergoing open repair in the early postoperative phase (day 3).

Our study found no significant differences in the expression of miR-155, miR-15a, miR-29b, or miR-29c before and after aneurysm repair, regardless of the surgical approach. However, early postoperative expression of miR-15a was significantly lower in EVAR patients without an endoleak, suggesting a potential role for miR-15a in early aortic remodeling following EVAR.