Can Pharmacologic Agents Slow Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth?

Multiple medical therapies have been proposed to prevent abdominal aortic aneurysm expansion. Use of these medications, hormones, vitamins, and dietary products is based on their ability to alter the pathophysiology of continued aortic wall growth. In this review, the explanation of how these medications can achieve suppression of abdominal aortic aneurysm is explained in relation to their effect on the various aspects of aortic wall inflammation. Despite the large number of animal and observational studies, there remain very few randomized clinical trials to support use of any of these agents. However, there may be sufficient evidence to suggest that statins, doxycycline, vitamin E, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers can prove beneficial in some individuals.