Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, including details on aaa (abdominal aortic aneurism), cardiac disease, treatment, symptoms, surgery.

Candidate gene association studies in abdominal aortic aneurysm disease: a review and meta-analysis.

Thompson AR, Drenos F, Hafez H, Humphries SE

Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, British Heart Foundation Laboratories, Royal Free & University College London Medical School, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JF, UK.

BACKGROUND: Candidate gene analysis has been frequently used in attempts to understand the pathological processes involved in many aspects of AAA disease. METHODS: This paper sets out a systems approach to reviewing AAA candidate gene analysis studies, whilst, explaining the key principles and design limitations of this universally applied technique. In addition we have performed a meta-analysis of six gene polymorphisms (ACE I/D, MTHFR+677C>T, MMP9-1562C>T, Il-1Beta/3953C>T, eNOS 4a/4b & TIMP1/+434C>T) reported in multiple case control studies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Three of these polymorphisms were associated with a significant risk of AAA, ACE RR 1.33 [95% CI 1.20-1.48], MTHFR RR 1.14 [1.08-1.21] and MMP9 RR 1.09 [1.01-1.18]. These differences have been previously reported as equivocal, within a context of contradictory studies and as such this meta-analysis provides new evidence for their involvement in AAA disease. The plausibility of these findings is discussed within the context of a systems approach to the pathology of AAA disease.

Published 17 December 2007 in Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg, 35(1): 19-30.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Research Today. All Rights Reserved.