Biomarkers for AAA: Encouraging steps but clinical relevance still to be delivered

Abstract

Potential biomarkers have been investigated using proteomic studies in a variety of diseases. Some biomarkers have central roles in both diagnosis and monitoring of various disorders in clinical medicine, such as troponins, brain natriuretic peptide, and C-reactive protein. Although several biomarkers have been suggested in human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), reliable markers have been lacking. In this issue, Moxon et al. [Proteomics Clin Appl. 2014, 8, 762-772] undertook a broad and systematic proteomic approach toward identification of biomarkers in a commonly used AAA mouse model (AAA created by angiotensin-II infusion). In this mouse model, apolipoprotein C1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were identified as novel biomarkers of stable AAA. This finding represents an important step forward, toward a clinically relevant role of biomarkers in AAA. This also encourages for further studies toward the identification of biomarkers (or their combinations) that can predict AAA progression and rupture, which would represent a major progress in AAA management and would establish an AAA biomarker as a much anticipated clinical tool.

The Society for Vascular Surgery practice guidelines on the care of patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm

“…56,[162][163][164][165] At the current time, none of these candidates has the sensitivity, specificity, or rigorous clinical validation to be relied on as a diagnostic or prognostic indicator for rupture risk. 166,167 Genetic markers identifying risk of aortic aneurysm. Genetic influences in AAA disease, first suggested by Clifton, 168 have been demonstrated by twin studies 169 and by formal segregation analyses.…”

Dysregulation of microRNA Modulatory Network in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

“…The prolonged course of asymptomatic phase of AAA provides a relatively long diagnostic window before rupture [ 17 ]. Despite many studies targeting circulatory biomarkers of AAA, there is still lack of robust molecular methods able to classify affected individuals with satisfactory precision [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”