title: Abdominal aortic aneurysm: a review of the genetic basis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease with a largely unknown pathophysiological background and a strong genetic component. Various studies have tried to link specific genetic variants with AAA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of the literature (1947-2009).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 249 studies were identified, 89 of which were eventually deemed relevant to this review. Genetic variants (polymorphisms) in a wide variety of genes, most of which encode proteolytic enzymes and inflammatory molecules, have been associated with AAA development and progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The genetic basis of AAA remains unknown, and most results from ''candidate-gene'' association studies are contradictory. Further analyses in appropriately powered studies in large, phenotypically well-characterized populations, including genome-wide association studies, are necessary to elucidate the exact genetic contribution to the pathophysiology of AAA.
authors.affiliation: Russell's Hall Hospital, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, West Midlands, UK. a_saratzis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saratzis
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kiskinis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saratzis
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kitas
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007378:Interleukins; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases