C-reactive protein predicts aortic aneurysmal disease progression after endovascular repair

- First-ever reported study on inflammatory cause of aneurysm expansion after EVAR
- Time-related association between CRP variation and aneurysm sac growth after EVAR
- Sac enlargement is associated to CRP gradient after EVAR, in the absence of endoleaks.
- CRP may be used as a marker of aneurysm disease progression and rate of expansion.

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of the rate of variation of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a predictor of aneurysmal sac and neck expansion and, therefore, of aneurysm disease progression, in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in the absence of endoleaks.Methods192 patients following non-emergency elective EVAR for asymptomatic infra-renal abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) were included after a six-month period after intervention to ensure the treatment success and absence of endoleaks. Expansion of aneurysm sac or neck after the six-month stabilization term occurred in 120 (63%) and 128 (67%) patients for a mean follow-up of 53 ± 23 months.ResultsThe relative CRP plasma level gradient significantly differed between the subgroups of patients according to relative sac expansion quartiles (7%, 26%, 39%, and 61%; p < 0.001). In the bivariate analysis, the aorta sac diameter expansion rate progressively increased in the subgroups determined by CRP gradient quartiles (− 0.5 ± 1%, 3.6 ± 1%, 8 ± 2%, 10 ± 3%; p < 0.01).The median (25th; 75th quartile) CRP level rise in “rapid expanders” patients (those above the median annual sac expansion rate of 5.7%) was 51% (37%; 67%) compared with 15% (3%; 28%) in “slow- or non-expanders” (p < 0.001). The multivariate age-adjusted logistic model confirmed the variation of CRP level and neck length as the only factors independently associated to sac expansion (odds ratio 4.3; 95% CI: 2.3-7.9 and 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.2, respectively).ConclusionThere is a significant time-related association between AAA sac diameter enlargement and CRP plasma level gradient after EVAR in the absence of endoleaks, confirming the latter as a proper marker of aneurysm disease progression and rate of expansion in these patients.