the Effect of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antagonists on the Size and Expansion Rate of Abdominal Aortas in Hypertensive Patients

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common disease that develops from degeneration of the aortic wall. The natural history of AAA is gradual expansion and if left untreated may result in rupture and death. The mechanism of the development of this disease is unknown however it appears to be multifactorial and possibly related to degradation processes within the arterial wall. There is growing evidence that Angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBS) may have an inhibitory effect on remodelling processes within the arterial wall, thus inhibiting degeneration of the vessel wall. Study hypothesis: ARBS are associated with smaller diameters of aortas among hypertensive patients, and are associated with a lower rate of aortic expansion compared to other antihypertensive drugs.