Key result
Aortic wall compliance had no significant relationship with aneurysm growth rate, though larger aneurysms tended to be less compliant (r=0.22, P=0.04 for Ep).
Why the study?
Does aortic compliance correlate with maximal aneurysm diameter and growth rate in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Observational (n=60)
Does aortic compliance correlate with maximal aneurysm diameter and growth rate in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Aortic compliance varies widely among abdominal aortic aneurysms of similar size and does not correlate with aneurysm growth rate, suggesting it may provide independent predictive information for rupture risk.
Aortic compliance should not guide AAA surveillance; leaves open its potential as an independent rupture risk marker.
AIM: Aortic compliance as measured by the pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) and stiffness (beta), may allow a more precise estimate of rupture risk. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between compliance, maximal aneurysm diameter and growth rate. METHODS: Sixty abdominal aortic aneurysm patients of median age 73 years, were studied. Growth rate was derived from repeat ultrasound scans obtained over a median period of 21 months (range 6-48). At the end of follow-up, patients underwent measurement of maximum aortic diameter, Ep and beta using the Diamove echo-tracking system. RESULTS: Growth rate correlated positively (r = 0.6, P < 0.01) with maximum diameter on entry to the study There was a positive correlation between mean arterial pressure and Ep (r = 0.3, P = 0.03), but not between mean arterial pressure and beta (r = 0.8, P = 0.61). A positive correlation was found between final maximum diameter and Ep (r = 0.22, P = 0.04) but not beta (r = 0.16, P = 0.11). There was no significant relationship between growth rate and Ep or beta. CONCLUSION: Large aneurysms tended to be less compliant. Within a population of abdominal aortic aneurysm of similar maximum diameter there was a 10-fold variation in Ep and beta. Compliance and growth rate were not related. If aortic compliance is related to risk of rupture then this predictive information is likely to be largely independent of that currently obtained from size and growth rate.
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Katie A. Wilson (1999) conducted an observational in Abdominal aortic aneurysm (n=60). Aortic wall compliance (pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness) was evaluated on Correlation between aneurysm growth rate and aortic compliance (Ep and beta). Aortic wall compliance had no significant relationship with aneurysm growth rate, though larger aneurysms tended to be less compliant (r=0.22, P=0.04 for Ep).
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