Objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall is characterized by degradation of extracellular matrix through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and extensive neovascularization. So far, MMP expression within AAA wall in association with infiltrates and neovascularization has not yet been studied. Methods: Vessel walls of 15 AAA patients and 8 organ donors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of various MMPs (MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, -12 and -13) in all cells located within the AAAs and correlated with infiltrates and neovascularization. Results: Luminal endothelial cells (ECs) were positive for MMP-1, -3 and -9, ECs of mature neovessels were furthermore positive for MMP-2. Immature neovessels expressed all MMPs tested except for MMP-13. Aortic medial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) expressed MMP-1, -2, -3 and -9, SMCs of mature neovessels, only MMP-1, -3 and -9. Inflammatory infiltrates expressed all MMPs tested except for MMP-2, macrophages expressed all MMPs. Infiltrates were composed mainly of B cells (58.5 ± 10.9%) and T lymphocytes (26.3 ± 9.5%). Furthermore, significant inverse correlations were found between the amounts of inflammatory cells, neovessels and collagen/elastin content of the aortic vessel wall (r = +0.806/p < 0.001, r = –0.650/p = 0.012, r = –0.63/p < 0.015; respectively). Conclusion: Inflammatory infiltrates and invading neovessels are relevant sources of MMPs in the AAA wall and may substantially contribute to aneurysm wall instability.

T he short-term risk of stroke or death of surgically treated patients having a symptomatic carotid stenosis has been shown to be similar in younger and older patients (<70 years [5.7%] versus ≥70 years [5.9%]).1 In contrast, a meta-analysis of 3 large randomized controlled trials (EVA-3S, SPACE, ICSS) revealed that the risk of stroke or death after carotid artery stenting increases significantly with age (<70 years [5.8%] versus ≥70 years [12.0%]).1 A similar trend (although not significant) has also been found in asymptomatic patients, particularly when sex was taken into account. 2 These observations might be explained by embolism derived from ruptured plaques or sheared-off arterial calcifications caused by guidewire manipulations during carotid artery stenting procedures. 3,4 In addition, multivariable analyses of pooled randomized controlled trial data on symptomatic patients showed that men have had a higher risk of stroke or death when treated with carotid artery stenting compared with carotid endarterectomy (9.0% versus 5.5%, respectively).1 In contrast, no significant differences were found in women. 1 This discrepancy in the available data raises the question of whether age and sex are associated with differences in plaque morphology or plaque composition.The pathophysiological development of an atherosclerotic plaque is a long-lasting and dynamic process. 5 The development of atherosclerosis begins already at an early age. However, the incidence of clinically apparent atherosclerosisrelated cardiovascular events increases only at an advanced age. [6][7][8][9][10] In Germany, the prevalence of extracranial carotid artery stenosis (>50%) is ≈6.9% in patients aged >65 years but increases further with age. 4,11 Among all ischemic stroke events, ≈15% were caused by arterioarterial embolization from extracranial atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis. 4 InBackground and Purpose-The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between morphological characteristics of human carotid plaques and patient's sex, age, and history of neurological symptoms. Methods-The study included 763 atherosclerotic plaques from patients treated surgically for carotid stenosis between 2004 and 2013. Histological analyses of carotid plaques were performed to assess the type of plaque (American Heart Association classification), the stability of the plaque, the extent of calcification, inflammation, and neovascularization, as well as the deposition of collagen and elastin. According to the scale of outcome measurement, logistic regression, ordinal regression, and multinomial regression analyses were applied. All results were adjusted for common risk factors of atherosclerosis. contrast, in coronary arteries, acute angina underlies the consequences of rupture or erosion of the plaque surface and subsequent luminal thrombus formation. 12,13 It is also known from coronary artery disease that fibrous plaques are mainly associated with stable syndromes, whereas atheromatous plaques are more often related to unstable ...

Background Population‐based data about the incidence and mortality of patients with aortic dissections ( ADs ) are sparse. Therefore, the hospital incidence and in‐hospital mortality of patients undergoing open or endovascular surgery for type A ADs ( TAADs ) and type B ADs ( TBADs ) in Germany were analyzed on a nationwide basis between 2006 and 2014. Methods and Results A secondary data analysis of the nationwide diagnosis‐related group statistics, compiled by the German Federal Statistical Office, was performed for patients who were surgically/interventionally treated for AD ( International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, German Modification [ ICD ‐10‐ GM ] codes I71.00‐I71.07; n=20 533). By using specific procedure codes, a distinction between TAAD (n=14 911/72.6%) and TBAD (n=5622/27.4%) could be made. The standardized hospital incidence of surgically/interventionally treated AD was 2.7/100 000 per year, comprising 2.0/100 000 per year for TAAD and 0.7/100 000 per year for TBAD . The in‐hospital mortality of TAAD was 19.5%; and of TBAD, 9.3%. Both the incidence and in‐hospital mortality increased over the 9‐year period. The share of endovascularly treated TBAD increased steadily during the same time interval. A multilevel multivariable analysis revealed that, for TAAD , age and comorbidity were significantly associated with a higher mortality risk. The latter was also true for TBAD . Sex was not significantly associated with mortality. A significant association between higher annual center volume and mortality was found for TAAD , but not for TBAD . Conclusions This is the first report on hospital incidence and mortality for surgically/interventionally treated AD on a nationwide basis. Overall, in Germany, hospital incidence and mortality of TAAD and TBAD increased over time. In addition, TAAD is performed more safely in high‐volume centers.