The Scandinavian Propaten(®) trial - 1-year patency of PTFE vascular prostheses with heparin-bonded luminal surfaces compared to ordinary pure PTFE vascular prostheses - a randomised clinical controlled multi-centre trial.

Objective: To compare 1-year potencies' of heparin-bonded PTFE [(Hb-PTFE) (Propaten(®))] grafts with those of ordinary polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) grafts in a blinded, randomised, clinically controlled, multi-centre study.

Materials And Methods: Eleven Scandinavian centres enrolled 569 patients with chronic functional or critical lower limb ischaemia who were scheduled to undergo femoro-femoral bypass or femoro-poplitaeal bypass. The patients were randomised 1:1 stratified by centre.

Dacron or PTFE for above-knee femoropopliteal bypass. a multicenter randomised study.

Objectives: To compare polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and polyester grafts (Dacron) for above knee femoropopliteal bypass.

Design: Multicenter randomised clinical trial.

Material And Methods: 427 patients were randomised between 6mm Dacron (Uni-Graft, B.

[Cost-benefit analysis of population screening for abdominal aortic aneurism, based on five-year results of a randomised hospital-based screening trial].

The lethality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is 80-95% compared to 5-6% after elective surgery. However, AAA seldom causes symptoms before rupture. From 1994 to 1998, 12,639 men aged 64-73, from Viborg County, were randomised 1:1 for an invitation to an ultrasonographic scan or for controls.

Preliminary ten year results from a randomised single centre mass screening trial for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: At present, several regions and countries are considering screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, The Chichester Aneurysms Screening Trial has reported poor long term benefit of screening for AAA. We therefore supplement previously published data with a preliminary analysis of the ten-year mortality from AAA, based upon population-based data until 2002 (7 years) and incomplete hospital-based information on deaths until 2005 (10 years).

Cost-effectiveness analysis of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms based on five year results from a randomised hospital based mass screening trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost effectiveness of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Material And Methods: All 12,639 men born in the years 1921-1933 (aged 64-73) living in Viborg County, Denmark, were randomly allocated either to receive an invitation to abdominal ultrasound scanning for AAA or to be controls. Costs for screening and surveillance were assessed prospectively.

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms: single centre randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether screening Danish men aged 65 or more for abdominal aortic aneurysms reduces mortality.

Design: Single centre randomised controlled trial.

Setting: All five hospitals in Viborg County, Denmark.

[Hospital costs and benefits of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Results from a randomized screening trial].

Introduction: The hospital costs and benefits of screening older males for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are unknown.

Material And Methods: In 1994, a hospital-based screening trial of 12,658 65-73-year-old males in the County of Viborg, Denmark, was started. AAA > 5 cm were referred for surgery.

[Reduction of the expansion rate of small abdominal aortic aneurysms with roxithromycin. Results from a randomized controlled trial].

Introduction: Macrolide treatment has been reported to reduce the risk of recurrent ischaemic heart disease. The influence of a macrolide on the expansion rate of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is unknown at present. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of roxithromycin on the expansion rate of small AAA.

Hospital costs and benefits of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Results from a randomised population screening trial.

Objectives: to analyse the hospital costs and benefits of screening older males for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Materials And Methods: in 1994 a hospital-based screening trial of 12 658 65-73-year-old males was started. AAA >5 cm were referred for surgery.

Plasma levels of plasmin-antiplasmin-complexes are predictive for small abdominal aortic aneurysms expanding to operation-recommendable sizes.

Objective: Three proteolytic systems seem involved in the aneurysmal degradation of the aortic wall. Plasmin is a common activator of the systems and could thus be predictive for the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods And Materials: In 1994, 112 of 141 male patients with AAA diagnosed through population screening (defined as 3 cm or more) were interviewed and examined and had blood samples taken.

[What are the direct costs of an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a Danish hospital?].

Introduction: The aim of the study was to estimate the direct cost of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and to validate it against the national Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) costs.

Material: Over a three-year period, between January 1996 and December 1998, a total of 100 men were selected at random from a series of 197 patients treated with open surgery for (AAA) at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Viborg Hospital.

Results: The total cost of an AAA operation without complications was estimated to be 70,000 DKK, compared to the DRG price of 79,000 DKK.

[Optimal interval screening and observation of abdominal aortic aneurysms].

Introduction: Screening and observation of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) produce psychological stress. Consequently, safe and optimal intervals of rescreening and observation must be developed.

Method: In a randomised, mass screening trial of 6,339 men aged, 65-73 years from 1994 to 1998, 76% attended, and 191 (4%) had AAA > or = 3 cm.

Randomized double-blind controlled trial of roxithromycin for prevention of abdominal aortic aneurysm expansion.

Background: Macrolide treatment has been reported to lower the risk of recurrent ischaemic heart disease. The influence of macrolides on the expansion rate of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) remains unknown. The aim was to investigate the effect of roxithromycin on the expansion rate of small AAAs.

Five-year results of elastin and collagen markers as predictive tools in the management of small abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) do rupture and only half of AAAs above 5 cm would have ruptured unoperated. Furthermore, conservative treatment of AAAs may cause psychological side effects and impaired quality of life. To optimise the indication and time for operation for AAAs, we analysed whether serum elastin peptides (EP), procollagen-IIIN-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), and the initial AAA size could predict operation for AAAs in initially conservatively treated AAA.

Smoking, but not lipids, lipoprotein(a) and antibodies against oxidised LDL, is correlated to the expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objectives: to study the role of smoking, lipids, lipoprotein (a), and autoantibodies against oxidised low density lipoprotein (Ab-oxLDL) in the expansion of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). To study the role of Ab-oxLDL and lp(a) in the progression of lower limb atherosclerosis.

Methods And Materials: one hundred and thirty-eight male patients with AAA were interviewed, examined, and their serum lipids and S-Ab-oxLDL determined.

Optimal interval screening and surveillance of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objectives: to determine safe and optimal intervals of rescreening and surveillance for AAA.

Methods: hospital-based mass screening of 6339 65-73-year-old men from 1994-98. 76.

The plasma level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 may predict the natural history of small abdominal aortic aneurysms. A preliminary study.

Objectives: increased levels of various proteinases have been detected in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and are assumed to cause the degradation of the aortic wall. To determine whether systemic measurement of these proteinases and their inhibitors may predict the natural cause of AAA.

Methods And Material: serum (S) and plasma (P) samples were obtained from 121 men following the diagnosis of a small AAA (3-5 cm) at population screening.

[Iliac aneurysm compared with abdominal aorta aneurysm].

The aim of the study was to compare the epidemiology, risk factors and manifestations of iliac and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Two studies were used: 1. Five thousand four hundred and seventy 65-73 year old men invited to screening for AAA.

Psychological consequences of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm and conservative treatment of small abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: To describe the potential psychological consequences of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods: The participants were prospectively and randomly sampled from a randomised screening trial for AAA and asked to complete a validated generic and global anonymous quality of life (QL) questionnaire by self-assessment (ScreenQL). Material case-control study: ScreenQL was completed once by 168 (48%) of 350 non-responders to screening, 271 (81%) of 335 attenders before screening, 286 (85%) of 335 attenders after screening, 127 (85%) of 149 with a small AAA diagnosed at screening, and 231 (66%) of 350 who were randomised not to be offered screening for AAA (controls).

A comparative study of iliac and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The aim of the paper is to compare the epidemiology, risk factors and manifestations of iliac and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Methods: Two studies were used: 1. 5,470 65-73-year-old men invited for screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Apolipoprotein E genotype is associated with differential expansion rates of small abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The common polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is associated with differential risk of atherosclerosis; the gene could be a candidate gene in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

Methods: APOE genotypes were determined in 57 men aged 65-73 years with a small AAA (30-50 mm). The patients were included in a population ultrasonographic screening programme and were followed with at least two examinations during an interval of 2-4.

[Surgery for ruptured abdominal aneurysm assisted by vascular unit team at the primary receiving hospital].

The objective of the study was to compare emergency operations for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) by a mobile operation team, with operation for RAAA carried out at our vascular unit. During a five year period (1993-1998), 18 emergency operations were carried out for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with rupture at the primary receiving hospital with assistance from a mobile operation team. In the same period 82 aneurysms with rupture were resected at our vascular surgical unit.

The progression of lower limb atherosclerosis is associated with IgA antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Objective: to study the influence of serologically diagnosed chronic infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae on the progression of lower limb atherosclerosis in a group of disposed men.

Material And Methods: the highest systolic brachial and lowest systolic ankle blood pressures were followed for an average of 2.7 years in 129 men aged 65-73 years with conservatively treated small abdominal aortic aneurysms.

[Natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysm with and without concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The relationship between abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and chronical obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and in particular the suggested common elastin degradation caused by elastase and smoking was analysed by a cross sectional population mass screening study for AAA, and a prospective cohort study of small AAA. All previous computer-hospital-recorded diagnoses were received concerning 4,404 men invited to screening for AAA. One hundred and forty-one had AAA (4.