Changes in inflammatory, coagulopathic, and fibrinolytic responses after endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm: relationship between fibrinogen degradation product levels and endoleaks.

PURPOSE

To compare the inflammatory, coagulopathic, and fibrinolytic responses after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm between two stent grafts. Fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) levels were compared between patients with or without an endoleak.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EVAR was performed in 88 patients using an Excluder (37 patients) or a Zenith (51 patients). White blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, platelet count, and FDP levels were measured before and after EVAR.

RESULTS

WBC and CRP increased and the platelet count decreased significantly on days 1 and 3 after EVAR in the Zenith group compared with the Excluder group. The change in FDP from baseline to 7 days after EVAR was -1.99 ± 7.46 vs. 8.59 ± 9.38 μg/mL in patients with (n = 24) vs. without (n = 64) an endoleak (p < 0.001). A change in FDP of 3.1 μg/mL was the optimal cutoff point for predicting the presence of an endoleak (accuracy 0.762; sensitivity 0.875; specificity 0.717).

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory, coagulopathic, and fibrinolytic responses were greater in the Zenith group than in the Excluder group. A change in FDP of ≤3.1 μg/mL was predictive of an endoleak after EVAR.