Abdominal aortic aneurysm or aortic occlusive disease: role of trace element imbalance.

The nature of the relationship between atheromatous disease and degenerative aneurysm is yet to be defined. The purpose of this study was to compare tissue Fe, Cu, Zn, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels (as a marker of lipid peroxidation) in the abdominal aorta in relation to the development of aneurysmal and occlusive disease in the infrarenal aorta. This was a prospective clinical study in an institutional referral center, in hospitalized patients.