Effects of Hypertension and Propranolol upon Aneurysm Expansion in the Anidjar/Dobrin Aneurysm Model

Propranolol has been suggested to slow aortic aneurysm (AAA) expansion by a mechanism independent of simple blood pressure (BP) reduction. To investigate this hypothesis, we designed a series of experiments to examine the effects of hypertension and propranolol upon AAA expansion. Using an establish...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1996-01, Vol.800 (1), p.89-96
Main Authors: RICCI, MICHAEL A., SLAIBY, JEFFREY M., GADOWSKI, GREGORY R., HENDLEY, EDITH D., NICHOLS, PATRICIA, PILCHER, DAVID B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use
Aged
Animals
Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - complications
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - drug therapy
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - pathology
Aortic Rupture - etiology
Aortic Rupture - prevention & control
Humans
Hypertension - complications
Hypertension - drug therapy
Middle Aged
Propranolol - therapeutic use
Rats
Rats, Inbred WKY
Rats, Mutant Strains
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Summary:Propranolol has been suggested to slow aortic aneurysm (AAA) expansion by a mechanism independent of simple blood pressure (BP) reduction. To investigate this hypothesis, we designed a series of experiments to examine the effects of hypertension and propranolol upon AAA expansion. Using an established animal model, we induced AAA in normotensive and genetically hypertensive rats by perfusion of the isolated infrarenal aorta with elastase for two hours. Systolic tail BP was monitored with a plethysmograph. AAA size was measured directly with a micrometer on postoperative days 7 and 14. All data are expressed as the mean +/- standard deviation (SD). BP (mmHg) was significantly higher in hypertensive rats: 164 +/- 15 versus 119 +/- 7 (p < 0.001). AAA were also significantly larger in hypertensive rats with a mean expansion rate (mm/day) nearly twice that of normotensive animals: 0.13 +/- 0.09 versus 0.07 +/- 0.03. In a second series of animals, propranolol treatment was compared to placebo. In those animals, hypertensive propranolol-treated rats had significantly smaller AAA than placebo-treated controls (p < 0.05). There was no difference in normotensive animals but these rats had an unexplained paradoxical rise in BP with treatment. In this model, hypertension increases the expansion rate of AAA. Propranolol reduced the size of AAA in hypertensive animals, at least in part because of a decrease in BP. Other possible mechanisms of propranolol's action may be operative and require further study.
ISSN:0077-8923
1749-6632
DOI:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1996.tb33301.x