TY - CHAP AU - Ana García-Martínez AU - Sergio Prieto-González AU - Pedro Arguis Giménez AU - Georgina Espígol-Frigolé AU - José Hernández-Rodríguez AU - Maria C Cid ED - Reinhart Grundmann Y1 - 2011-07-27 PY - 2011 T1 - Aortitis and aortic aneurysm in systemic vasculitis N2 - This book considers mainly etiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology of aortic aneurysms (AA) and aneurysm rupture and addresses anyone engaged in treatment and prevention of AA. Multiple factors are implicated in AA pathogenesis, and are outlined here in detail by a team of specialist researchers. Initial pathological events in AA involve recruitment and infiltration of leukocytes into the aortic adventitia and media, which are associated with the production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokine, and reactive oxygen species. AA development is characterized by elastin fragmentation. As the aorta dilates due to loss of elastin and attenuation of the media, the arterial wall thickens as a result of remodeling. Collagen synthesis increases during the early stages of aneurysm formation, suggesting a repair process, but resulting in a less distensible vessel. Proteases identified in excess in AA and other aortic diseases include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cathepsins, chymase and others. The elucidation of these issues will identify new targets for prophylactic and therapeutic intervention. BT - Etiology, Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of Aortic Aneurysms and Aneurysm Rupture SP - Ch. 8 UR - https://doi.org/10.5772/18875 DO - 10.5772/18875 SN - PB - IntechOpen CY - Rijeka Y2 - 2024-03-29 ER -