Genetic Basis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

To identify the genetic (major genes) and environmental factors responsible for the significant aggregation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) among relatives of affected individuals.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dilatation of the abdominal aorta which can, if undetected, lead to rupture. The mortality associated with ruptured AAA is estimated to be 90 percent, while elective repair has a mortality risk of approximately 6 percent. Ruptured AAA is a leading cause of death among older Americans. The identification of markers of AAA risk could lead to preventive intervention. AAA aggregates in families, and segregation analysis shows that familial risk of AAA is best explained by the segregation of a major gene with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Affected relative pairs (primarily sibling pairs) with AAA and no evidence of a family history of a connective tissue disorder were genotyped for 150 highly informative microsatellite polymorphisms marking the autosomal genome at a resolution of 20 cM. The linkage between AAA and these loci was tested using robust affected pedigree member methods to identify genomic regions which might contain genes that predisposed individuals to develop AAA. The existence of predisposing gene(s) were confirmed and their location refined using a defined search strategy, genotyping at increasing levels of resolution, and re-analysis of family data. The predisposing gene(s) were identified by a combination of saturation mapping and molecular analysis of candidate loci. The association of AAA with environmental measures was investigated to determine an equation for estimating risk for relatives of AAA patients based upon environmental measures and genotype. Power calculations based upon the number and structure of families already collected demonstrated the feasibility of identifying genes that predisposed to AAA using this strategy, even in the presence of significant heterogeneity with respect to the loci involved. In addition to identifying genes that were necessary for AAA by linkage analysis, a series of analyses of association were undertaken to identify true susceptibility genes that were neither necessary nor sufficient to cause disease, but which modified an individual's risk of developing AAA.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "End Date" entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) record.

Study Type

Observational

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

No older than 100 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

No eligibility criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Robert Ferrell, University of Pittsburgh

Publications and helpful links

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General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 1991

Study Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2001

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 25, 2000

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 25, 2000

First Posted (Estimate)

May 26, 2000

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

May 13, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2016

Last Verified

August 1, 2004

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 5058
  • R01HL044682 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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