Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) is associated with ascending aortic aneurysm growth rate.
Plasma levels of PIIINP a marker of extracellular matrix metabolism activity have been linked to abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rate, but its relationship with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) growth has never previously been studied.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the value of assay of "aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen" (PIIINP) to predict the growth of ascending TAA.


RESULTS
Thirty consecutive patients with asymptomatic ascending TAA were recruited and PIIINP was measured. The patients were then followed up in the usual way, by annual imaging tests. The patients were then divided into two groups: Group 1=patients with a stable TAA or with a slow growth rate (≤2 mm/year) (n=23) and Group 2=patients with a fast-growing TAA (>2 mm/year) (n=7). Mean age of the patients was 65.8±10.8 years. At inclusion, the mean value for maximum aneurysm diameter was 44.6±3.4 mm. The mean follow-up period was 1.6±0.8 years. The patients presenting a significant increase in maximum aneurysm size have a significantly higher PIIINP level than those demonstrating no or limited growth in maximum aneurysm diameter (4.51±1.09 vs 3.38±0.96 µg/l respectively, p=0.02). There is no difference between the two groups for the other clinical or laboratory parameters. Following multivariate analysis the PIIINP level remains significantly higher in Group 1 (p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that it may in the future be possible to monitor TAA growth by means of PIIINP levels.
Clinic of Cardiology, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France. Electronic address: OOrmezzano@chu-grenoble.fr.
Olivier
O
Ormezzano
Clinic of Cardiology, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Jean-Philippe
JP
Baguet
Clinic of Radiology, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Frédéric
F
Thony
Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Dominique
D
Blin
Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Olivier
O
Chavanon
Department of Biochemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacoloy, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Bertrand
B
Toussaint
Department of Biochemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacoloy, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Candice
C
Trocmé
Clinic of Cardiology, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Gérald
G
Vanzetto
Department of Biochemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacoloy, UJF, University Hospital of Grenoble, France.
Patrice
P
Faure
D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide