title: Abdominal aortic aneurysm: consequences of a positive family history.
abstract: To assess the prevalence of coexisting abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) within certain families, a retrospective review was carried out of patients who had undergone AAA repair over a 5-year period. Contact was made with 305 families (52%) and a positive history of an affected, first-degree relative was obtained in 34 (11%). A known AAA was reported to affect approximately 20% of siblings at risk when the proband had an affected parent or sibling. Siblings of patients with an affected first-degree relative represent a high-risk group that may benefit from a screening program for earlier detection and elective management of AAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ont.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: McPhail
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roberge
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wellington
mesh_terms: D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D012189:Retrospective Studies