Title:Emerging Pharmacological Treatments to Prevent Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth and Rupture
Volume: 21
Issue: 28
Author(s): Rodrigo A. Fraga-Silva, Bram Trachet and Nikolaos Stergiopulos
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm, statins, renin angiotensin system, tetracyclines, interleukin-1β.
Abstract: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a local expansion of the abdominal aorta wall caused by a complex
multifactorial maladaptive vascular remodeling. Despite recent advances in the management of cardiovascular
diseases, there currently is no established drug therapy for AAA. Since the probability of death from a ruptured
AAA still remains high, preventive elective repair of AAAs larger than 5.5 cm in luminal diameter is considered
the best treatment option. However, perioperative complications are problematic as elective AAA repair comes
with numerous intrinsic risks. Impelled by the need of improving AAA therapy, significant efforts have been made
to identify pharmacological tools that would slow down AAA enlargement and lower the risk of rupture, thereby
reducing the necessity of surgical intervention. In this review, we discuss recent findings addressing molecular targets
that could potentially treat AAA, particularly addressing: statins, classical renin angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, the protective
arm of RAS, renin inhibitors, tetracyclines, interleukin-1β inhibition, anti-angiogenic agents and urocortins.
