Use of biomarkers to identify therapy targets and diagnostic markers for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) management is hampered by lack of non-surgical therapies and limited methods to diagnose or predict patients' outcomes.\ud \ud Methods: A mouse model, human AAA biopsies, cell culture and blood samples were used to identify tissue and blood markers associated with AAA, target potential novel therapies and assess diagnostic and prognostic models.\ud \ud Results: A number of circulating and tissue biomarkers associated with AAA were identified including osteoprotegerin, osteopontin and D-dimer. A medication stimulating downregulation of osteopontin was able to inhibit aortic dilatation in a mouse model of AAA. A model incorporating plasma D-dimer along with clinical risk factors was able to risk stratify subjects for AAA prevalence and predict AAA expansion.\ud \ud Conclusions: AAA has a number of tissue and circulating biomarkers which maybe of value in advancing patient management but further validation studies are required