Cole Treat
Research Mentor: Monika Leja
Mentor Department: Internal Medicine – Cardiology, Medicine
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 93
Abstract
Background: Aortic aneurysms (AA) are inflammatory disorders characterized by excessive proteolytic breakdown of the extracellular matrix in the aortic wall caused by chronic inflammation. The disorder is responsible for over 15,000 deaths in the U.S., annually. Progression varies from (-1.0 to 6.1 mm/year) and only diameter reliably predicts growth. Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR), the circulating form of the membrane-bound uPAR, limited in biomarker effectiveness due to solubility, is a protein biomarker that reflects systemic inflammation and immune activation in cardiovascular conditions. supAR reflects innate immune activation, matrix remodeling, and atherosclerosis, elevated in atherosclerotic plaques and peripheral artery disease (PAD), but AA data is scarce. Objective: Evaluate plasma suPAR as a biomarker for AA progression using U-M’s CHIP biorepository (Dr. Cristen Willer, PI). Methods: suPAR measured via Virogates suPARnostic ELISA (LOD 100 pg/mL; CVs 2.75%/9.17%) in non acute plasma from 2,000 AA patients (75% male; 92% Caucasian; 55% abdominal). REDCap is used to capture blood draw dates, degenerative tissue disorder, post-blood draw dissection procedure (type/date), post-blood draw surgeries to treat AA, final clinical follow-up date (< 2022), and AA measurements (cm). EMERSE/MyChart are used to scan clinical records for recordings above. Linear mixed models are used to track aneurysm growth rates. Linear regression model is used to analyze time to outcomes like surgery, dissection, and death, split by aneurysm type, and adjusted for age, sex, smoking, kidney function, blood pressure, diabetes, and starting size. Data will be compared to 1926 heathy people from the MESA study. Results: Data entry for the full 2,000 patient cohort is ongoing (-300 completed); preliminary suPAR distribution appears elevated vs. MESA controls. Statistical analysis is pending. Conclusion: This study will determine if suPAR levels can predict AA progression beyond diameter, informing future AA treatment options.
