PPT Slide
Collagen and elastin are major structural components of vessel walls widely implicated in aneurysm formation, progression, and rupture. The most prevalent structural modification associated with human AAAs that has been reported is a reduction in elastin concentration in the aortic wall.
A common histochemical observation in these studies has been the gross alteration in the organization and deposition of elastin in aneurysm walls.
Correlations between reduced elastin concentration and AAA diameter have been observed. Other studies have shown that reduction in elastin concentration is essentially complete prior to dilation of AAAs.