Lack of an effective drug therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Golledge, J., Moxon, J. V., Singh, T. P., Bown, M. J., Mani, K., and Wanhainen, A. (2020) Lack of an effective drug therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Journal of Internal Medicine, 288 (1). pp. 6-22.

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View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12958
 
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Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is a common cause of death in adults. Current AAA treatment is by open surgical or endovascular aneurysm repair. Rodent model and human epidemiology, and genetic and observational studies over the last few decades have highlighted the potential of a number of drug therapies, including medications that lower blood pressure, correct dyslipidaemia, or inhibit thrombosis, inflammation or matrix remodelling, as approaches to managing small AAA. This review summarizes prior AAA pathogenesis data from animal and human studies aimed at identifying targets for the development of drug therapies. The review also systematically assesses past randomized placebo-controlled drug trials in patients with small AAAs. Eleven previously published randomized-controlled clinical trials testing different drug therapies aimed at slowing AAA progression were identified. Five of the trials tested antibiotics and three trials assessed medications that lower blood pressure. Meta-analyses of these trials suggested that neither of these approaches limit AAA growth. Allocation to blood pressure-lowering medication was associated with a small reduction in AAA rupture or repair, compared to placebo (relative risk 0.94, 95% confidence intervals 0.89, 1.00,P = 0.047). Three further trials assessed the effect of a mast cell inhibitor, fibrate or platelet aggregation inhibition and reported no effect on AAA growth or clinical events. Past trials were noted to have a number of design issues, particularly small sample sizes and limited follow-up. Much larger trials are needed to properly test potential therapeutic approaches if a convincingly effective medical therapy for AAA is to be identified.

Item ID: 63773
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1365-2796
Keywords: aneurysm, aortic, medication, meta-analysis, systematic review
Copyright Information: © 2019 The Association for the Publication of the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Funders: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Townsville Hospital and Health Service Research Trust Fund (TH), Queensland Government
Projects and Grants: NHMRC Grant 1098717, NHMRC Grant 1079369, NHMRC Grant 1022752, NHMRC Grant 1117601
Date Deposited: 15 Jul 2020 07:41
FoR Codes: 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320226 Surgery @ 100%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200102 Efficacy of medications @ 100%
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