title: Inverse Correlation Between Calcium Accumulation and the Expansion Rate of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When the maximal diameter of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) exceeds a threshold, the likelihood of catastrophic rupture increases markedly. Therefore, surveillance at optimal intervals should be offered to patients with AAA. However, other than AAA diameter, there is no useful marker or index for predicting the expansion rate of an AAA or determining the optimal intervals for surveillance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of calcium accumulation in the AAA for predicting its expansion rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a retrospective cohort study in 414 patients with infrarenal AAA who visited The University of Tokyo Hospital. The maximal diameter and extent of calcification of each AAA were evaluated by multidetector-row computed tomography imaging. There was an inverse correlation between the extent of calcification and the subsequent AAA expansion. A lower extent of calcification in the AAA as well as the AAA diameter and absence of coronary artery disease correlated with an accelerated expansion of the AAA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In AAA, a lower extent of calcification correlated with accelerated expansion. The calcification index of an AAA can be a useful predictor of its expansion rate. The study findings also support the theory that the mechanisms for progression in atherosclerosis with calcification and external expansion of an aneurysm are distinct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshina
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsu
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Issei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Komuro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium