ABSTRACT
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized by a focal
expansion that exceeds the normal diameter by more than 50%. It
is present in approximately 8% of men aged above 65 years and
is the 13th leading cause of death in the United States [1-2]. The
pathology of the aneurysmatic wall includes extensive disruption
and fragmentation of the elastic lamellae associated with marked
inflammatory cell infiltration [3] and progressive decrease in the
number of viable smooth muscle cells (SMCs) [4]. With time and
aggravated by risk factors such as smoking, systemic hypertension,
and hypercholesterolemia, aneurysm growth progresses as a result
of an insidious imbalance between matrix protein degradation and
production that increases the risk of rupture of the weakened
wall [5].
