Abstract
Purpose: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are associated with diffuse arteriomegaly and peripheral aneurysms, suggesting a generalized process. Elastin and collagen are the key structural proteins of the aorta, and their relative content is markedly altered in tissue from AAA. Our purpose was to investigate elastin and collagen content in the proximal, nonaneurysmal segments of aortas with infrarenal AAA. Methods: After extraction of lipid, calcium, and soluble proteins, hydroxyproline (collagen) and desmosine-isodesmosine (elastin) contents were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in the ascending and descending thoracic, supraceliac, and suprarenal aorta. By repeated measures of analysis of covariance, collagen was found to be increased throughout the aorta in AAA as compared with normal aorta or aorta with atherosclerotic occlusive disease. This difference remained significant when adjustments were made for group differences in age and degree of atherosclerosis. This increase in collagen content results in a dilutional decrease in elastin concentration. These data demonstrate that the same matrix protein alterations found in AAA tissue occur throughout the aorta, differing only in magnitude in the aneurysmal and nonaneurysmal segments. These data suggest that aneurysm formation may relate to alterations in the regulation of elastin and collagen. (J VASC SURG 1994;19:797-803.)
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 797-803 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Vascular Surgery |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1994 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Supported by a grant from the Veterans Administration Advisory Group to BTB.
Funding
Supported by a grant from the Veterans Administration Advisory Group to BTB.
Funders | Funder number |
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine