Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in the follow-up of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

Purpose: We evaluate here whether serial changes in the concentration of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in serum bear any relationship to the rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) expansion and whether serum PIIINP has any predictive value with respect to the rupture event.Methods: One hundred thirty-nine patients with asymptomatic AAAs were followed-up at intervals of 6 to 12 months by means of a clinical...