Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the offspring of patients dying from aneurysm rupture

The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is high in the brothers of patients with aneurysm. A genetic component in the development of AAA has, therefore, been postulated. In this study the offspring of patients who had died from AAA rupture were invited to undergo ultrasonography of the abdominal aorta. The attendance rate was 69 per cent. Thirty-nine sons of median age 60 (range 45-75) years and 23 daughters of median age 62 (range 42-80) years were examined. Abdominal aortic dilatation was found in eight men and one woman. The presence of aortic dilatation in these nine cases was not related to age, hypertension, smoking or symptoms of occlusive arterial disease. It is concluded that the sons of those who have died from ruptured AAA constitute a high-risk group for the development of this condition and should be considered for further screening.