Anti-CD 18 monoclonal antibody slows experimental aortic aneurysm expansion.

Purpose: Inflammation has been implicated as a contributing factor in the expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of a monoclonal antibody (MAB) to the leukocyte CD18 adhesion molecule on the expansion of experimental AAA.

Methods: Aneurysms were induced by perfusion of an isolated segment of the infrarenal aorta with elastase in 22 normotensive (WKY) and 17 genetically hypertensive (WKHT) rats.