Segmental aortic stiffening contributes to experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stiffening of the aortic wall is a phenomenon consistently observed in age and in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, its role in AAA pathophysiology is largely undefined.

Methods and results

Using an established murine elastase-induced AAA model, we demonstrate that segmental aortic stiffening precedes aneurysm growth. Finite-element analysis reveals that early stiffening of the aneurysm-prone aortic segment leads to axial (longitudinal) wall stress generated by cyclic (systolic) tethering of adjacent, more compliant wall segments. Interventional stiffening of AAA-adjacent aortic segments (via external application of surgical adhesive) significantly reduces aneurysm growth. These changes correlate with the reduced segmental stiffness of the AAA-prone aorta

SUBMITTER: Raaz U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4439288 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature