title: Genetic and Environmental Effects on the Abdominal Aortic Diameter Development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Configuration of the abdominal aorta is related to healthy aging and a variety of disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess heritable and environmental effects on the abdominal aortic diameter.
  
  
  METHODS
  114 adult (69 monozygotic, 45 same-sex dizygotic) twin pairs (mean age 43.6 ± 16.3 years) underwent abdominal ultrasound with Esaote MyLab 70X ultrasound machine to visualize the abdominal aorta below the level of the origin of the renal arteries and 1-3 cm above the bifurcation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age- and sex-adjusted heritability of the abdominal aortic diameter below the level of the origin of the renal arteries was 40% [95% confidence interval (CI), 14 to 67%] and 55% above the aortic bifurcation (95% CI, 45 to 70%). None of the aortic diameters showed common environmental effects, but unshared environmental effects were responsible for 60% and 45% of the traits, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis documents the moderate heritability and its segment-specific difference of the abdominal aortic diameter. The moderate part of variance was explained by unshared environmental components, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle factors in primary prevention. Further studies in this field may guide future gene-mapping efforts and investigate specific lifestyle factors to prevent abdominal aortic dilatation and its complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Adam Domonkos
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tarnoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: David Laszlo
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tarnoki
authors.affiliation: Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Littvay
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, The Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Garami
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karlinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berczi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014463:Ultrasonography