18 research outputs found
Screening for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with aortoiliac atherosclerosis: a preliminary study
Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAs) usually present with rupture and
carry a high morbidity and mortality rate. Early detection of TAAs with screening
methods and elective surgical repair could potentially diminish these complications.
The present study was aimed at screening for TAA in patients with
angiography-proven aortoiliac atherosclerosis (n = 43). A group of patients
without aortoiliac atherosclerosis was used as controls (n = 15). Age, sex and
aortic diameter at the level of the T12 vertebra were recorded. The subjects
were divided into two age categories, the first made up of those aged less
than 65 years and the second those aged 65 years or more. A T12 aortic
diameter greater than 35 mm was used to indicate TAA. Statistical analyses
were performed by independent t-test and general linear model with age
category, sex and atherosclerosis as factors. The mean T12 aortic diameters
were greater in patients with atherosclerosis than in the control group
(25.2 ± 5.0 vs. 22.9 ± 2.4 mm; p = 0.034). Two out of 43 patients (4.7%)
with aortoiliac atherosclerosis had TAA, while no one in the control group
had TAA. A general linear model showed that the interaction of age category
and sex significantly affected the T12 aortic diameter [F (1.49) = 4.044,
p = 0.050]. Post hoc (LSD) tests revealed that male patients aged over 65 had
greater T12 aortic diameters than other patients. We conclude that patients
with aortoiliac atherosclerosis may be at greater risk for developing TAA.
Ageing and male sex may also be associated with thoracoabdominal aortic
enlargement. (Folia Morphol 2008; 67: 78-83