The value of screening in siblings of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a large group of siblings of Australian AAA patients to determine if screening in this group is justified.

METHODS

1254 siblings of 400 index AAA patients were identified and offered aortic ultrasound screening. An age and sex matched control group was recruited from patients having abdominal CT scans for non-vascular indications. AAA was defined by an infrarenal aortic diameter of > or =3 cm or a ratio of the infrarenal to suprarenal aortic diameter of > or =2.0. A ratio of 1.0-1.5 was considered normal, and a ratio of >1.5 to <2.0 was considered ectatic. Aortic enlargement was defined as ectasia or aneurysm.

RESULTS

276 (22%) siblings could be contacted and agreed to screening or had previously been diagnosed with AAA. All 118 controls had normal diameter aortas. 55/276 siblings had previously been diagnosed with AAA. The remaining 221 siblings underwent ultrasound screening. Overall, 30% (84/276) had enlarged aortas (5% ectasia, 25% aneurysmal); 43% of male siblings (64/150) and 16% of females siblings (20/126). The incidence was 45% in brothers of female index patients, 42% in brothers of male patients, 23% in sisters of female patients, and 14% in sisters of male index patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of aortic enlargement of 30% found in this study warrants a targeted screening approach with ultrasound for all siblings of patients with AAA. A similar targeted approach for screening of the children of AAA patients would also seem advisable.