Does Calcification Affect Prognosis in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms?

A small body of research has suggested that heavily calcified abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) expand at a slower rate than less-calcified AAAs (Circ J 2016; 80:332 and Atherosclerosis 2008; 197:673). The presumed mechanism is stabilization of the aortic wall by calcification.

In this latest retrospective study, researchers analyzed data on 102 patients with AAAs — mostly in the 4 to 5 cm range — who had undergone an average of 4 CT angiographic surveillance scans at 6-month intervals. Using two methods for quantitating infrarenal aortic calcification, they found that slowly progressive AAAs (<2 mm increase in diameter during 6-month intervals) had roughly twice the amount of calcification as more-rapidly progressive AAAs.