Editorial Atherosclerosis and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Cause, Response, or Common Risk Factors?

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture has beenrecognized as a significant cause of mortality for adults aged 60 years in the developed world for some time.1 AAAs are usually asymptomatic until rupture occurs, and screening programs have been shown to reduce mortality in men aged65 years.2 Most AAAs detected by ultrasound are 50 mm in diameter, and there is currently no recognized treatment for these AAAs.3,4 Studies aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of AAA are important as they may identify targets for novel therapy. See accompanying article on page 1263 The mechanisms initiating and stimulating progression of AAA are still poorly understood, with most knowledge coming from cross-sectional association studies in humans and increasingly from investigations in animal models.4 Such studies suggest the importance of inflammatory pathways