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Biomarkers in Vascular Disease

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Mechanisms of Vascular Disease

Abstract

Basic scientific research over recent decades has identified a large number of molecules implicated in vascular disease pathogenesis. Molecular processes such as inflammation, apoptosis, proteolysis, thrombosis, and extracellular matrix degradation have been described in the aetiology of both aneurysmal and atherosclerotic disease. As a consequence of these processes, local cytokine, enzyme and protein expression is modified. Today, many of these molecular modifications can be measured systemically by sensitive assays. The molecular markers, when specific for that disease, become biomarkers.

Biomarker discovery involves taking the altered protein or cytokine expression and exploring it for a correlation to disease presence, burden, progression or remission. Biomarkers may act as screening tools, be added to risk prediction formulae or be utilized in post-operative follow-up.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and carotid stenosis are two disease processes where biomarkers would revolutionize surgical management. Currently treatment for both diseases is directed by the morphological characteristics of the lesion. These morphological criteria are imprecise and fail to adequately describe risk or predict outcome. A biomarker capable of predicting AAA rupture risk or identifying high risk carotid plaques would prevent unnecessary surgery and concentrate resources on the patients most likely to benefit.

This chapter describes the process of biomarker discovery, and details progress made in this field for AAA and unstable carotid plaques. In the future, it is likely that surgeons will utilize biomarkers to direct them on the timing and indications for interventions.

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Further Reading

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular and Thoracic, University Hospitals Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Ashraf Cadersa & Ian M. Nordon

  2. Wessex Vascular Network, University Hospitals Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Ashraf Cadersa & Ian M. Nordon

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  1. Ashraf Cadersa
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  2. Ian M. Nordon
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Correspondence to Ian M. Nordon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Robert Fitridge

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Cadersa, A., Nordon, I.M. (2020). Biomarkers in Vascular Disease. In: Fitridge, R. (eds) Mechanisms of Vascular Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43683-4_15

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