title: Plasma and tissue levels of collagen types I and III markers in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the levels of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III(PIIINP) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) in plasma and in the wall of abdominal aortic aneurysms in relation to their size and symptomatology. PIIINP serves as a marker of turnover and PICP as a marker of the synthesis of the corresponding collagens.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective non-randomised study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital, Plzen, Czech Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six patients who underwent resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms, average age 70.1 years (range 45 to 91 years), men to women ratio 5:1. The indication for resection was its symptomatology without relation to its diameter, and diameter over 5 cm in asymptomatic patients. Twenty patients (with similar age and gender distribution) scheduled for hernia repair or laparoscopic cholecystectomy were examined as a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasma and tissue PICP and PIIINP concentrations were evaluated using radioimmunoassay methods. The plasma samples were taken from the cubital vein without the use of a tourniquet. Full-thickness sections of the anterior abdominal aortic aneurysm wall at the site of the largest aneurysm diameter were taken at the time of operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference between plasma PIIINP levels in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms and the control group was observed (p<0.01). No correlation of PICP, PIIINP plasma levels with diameter and symptomatology of abdominal aortic aneurysms was found. The increase in PHIIINP tissue concentration was significant in patients with increasing diameter and positive symptomatology (p<0.01). No statistically significant correlation between plasma and tissue PICP and PIIINP concentrations was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The metabolism of type III collagen is increased in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, in contrast to type I collagen. The result is a degradation of collagen in the aneurysmal wall. The turnover of type III collagen increases with the enlargement of the aneurysm diameter and with the positive symptomatology. Degradation of type III collagen in the aneurysmal wall has therefore a fundamental significance for abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture. Because no correlation between plasma and tissue levels of PIIINP was found, the plasma levels of PIIINP cannot be used as the plasma markers of this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Plzen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Treska
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Topolcan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide