The Relationship Between Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Distensibility and Serum Markers of Elastin and Collagen Metabolism

Udgivelsesdato: 2001-Feb BACKGROUND: abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) distensibility may be an independent predictor of growth and rupture, possibly because it reflects changes in aortic wall structure and composition. AIM: to determine whether AAA distensibility is related to circulating markers of elastin and collagen metabolism. METHODS: sixty-two male patients of median age (IQR) 68 (65-72) years with asymptomatic AAA of median (IQR) diameter 42 (37-45) mm were prospectively studied. Pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) and stiffness (beta) were measured using an ultrasonic echo-tracker (Diamove). Serum elastin peptides (SEP), plasma elastin-alpha1-antitrypsin complex (E-AT), procollagen III-N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: age and smoking adjusted Ep and beta were significantly inversely related to SEP (r=-0.33 and r=-0.31 respectively, both p