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.

Low molecular weight heparin treatment decreases MMP-9 plasma activity in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Grzela T, Brawura-Biskupski-Samaha R, Jelenska MM, Szmidt J

Department of Histology and Embryology, Warsaw Medical University, Poland. tgrzela@op.pl

Large abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are associated with coagulation abnormalities, which are significantly reduced by low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Considering anti-inflammatory properties of heparin we verified, whether LMWH influences MMP-2/-9 in AAA patients. The study involved 26 AAA individuals, 10 patients with coagulation abnormalities received LMWH and 16 were a control group. The plasma activity of MMP-2/-9 was measured using zymography. We found that, in addition to the reduction of coagulation abnormalities, LMWH treatment was associated with the decreased MMP-9 but not MMP-2 activity. Therefore, LMWH use could be considered as a valuable pretreatment before an elective aneurysm repair.

Published 1 February 2008 in Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg, 35(2): 159-61.
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