title: Prospects for the medical management of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a chronic degenerative disease with life-threatening implications. While AAAs are thought to arise through a localized form of arterial wall injury superimposed on various predisposing factors, their natural history is one of progressive structural deterioration, gradual expansion, and eventual rupture. Pathologic processes contributing to the changes observed in AAAs include chronic inflammation, destructive remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and depletion of vascular smooth muscle cells. These changes result in progressive aortic dilatation accompanied by alterations in vessel geometry, redistribution of hemodynamic wall stresses, and diminished tensile strength. As outlined in this review, better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying these changes will allow design of novel therapeutic strategies to suppress the process of aneurysmal degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. thompsonr@msnotes.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D011433:Propranolol; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases