Title:Protective Role of Diabetes Mellitus on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Pathogenesis: Myth or Reality?
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Djordje Radak, Slobodan Tanaskovic, Niki Katsiki and Esma R. Isenovic
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, risk factors.
Abstract: An inverse association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and abdominal aortic aneurysm
(AAA) risk have been reported. Apart from a lower AAA prevalence among patients with vs without
DM, there are data showing that DM may exert a protective role on aneurysmal growth in patients with
small AAAs, thus decreasing the risk of rupture. As atherosclerosis has almost the same risk factors as aneurysms, the
decreased AAA prevalence in patients with DM may indicate that atherosclerosis is an associated feature and not a cause
of the aneurysms. Alternatively, DM may be associated with factors that influence AAA formation. In this narrative
review, we discuss the inverse association between DM and AAA. We also comment on underlying cellular and genetic
pathophysiological mechanisms of DM, AAA and atherosclerosis. The effects of drugs, commonly prescribed in DM
patients, on AAA development and growth are also considered.
