title: [Physiopathology of aortic aneurysm].
abstract: Aneurysm is an arterial dilatation with risk of rupture. It is a disease of the media characterized by the destruction of extracellular matrix proteins (especially elastin) involving different proteases: matrix metalloproteinases, fibrinolytic proteases (plasminogen activators, plasmin), leucocyte elastase, and by the absence of scarring process. There is an imbalance in the aortic wall between proteolytic and antiproteolytic activities, the former being overexpressed (by inflammatory cells infiltrating the aortic wall on the adventitial side, and the endoluminal thrombus), the latter (normally synthesized and secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells) being decreased in relation to the disappearance of smooth muscle cells.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unité 460 (Remodelage cardiovasculaire) Faculté de médecine Xavier Bichat B.P. 416 75870 Paris.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossignol
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meilhac
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anglés-Cano
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins