What causes an abdominal aortic aneurysm to form?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm may be caused by multiple factors that result in the breaking down of the well-organized structural components (proteins) of the aortic wall that provide support and stabilize the wall. The exact cause is not fully known. Atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque, which is a deposit of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of an artery) is thought to play an important role in aneurysmal disease, including the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis, such as: • age (greater than 60) • male (occurrence in males is four to five times greater than that of females) • family history (first degree relatives such as father or brother) • genetic factors • hyperlipidemia (elevated fats in the blood) • hypertension (high blood pressure) • smoking • diabetes Other diseases that may cause an abdominal aneurysm include: • genetic disorders of connective tissue (abnormalities that can affect tissues such as bones,
