Familial aortic aneurysms: serum concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and (VLDL + LDL)-cholesterol.

Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have been compared with healthy controls with respect to the serum concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and (VLDL + LDL)-cholesterol. The concentrations of triglyceride and (VLDL + LDL)-cholesterol in serum were higher in the patients than in the controls, while the concentration of HDL-cholesterol in serum was lower in the patients than in the controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the serum concentration of total cholesterol between the patients and the controls. Twelve patients had first degree relatives (brothers, sisters and/or parents) with AAAs and six patients had second degree relatives (cousins or brothers and sisters of the parents) with AAAs. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients who had first degree relatives with AAAs and the patients without AAAs in the family in the serum concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and (VLDL + LDL)-cholesterol.