Circulating biomarkers are not associated with endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Objective: Endoleak is a common complication of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) but can be detected only through prolonged follow-up with repeated aortic imaging. This study examined the potential for circulating matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), osteoprotegerin (OPG), D-dimer, homocysteine (HCY), and C-reactive protein (CRP) to act as diagnostic markers for endoleak in AAA patients undergoing elective EVAR. Methods: Linear mixed-effects models were constructed to assess differences in AAA diameter after EVAR between groups of patients who did and did not develop endoleak during follow-up, adjusting for potential confounders. Circulating MMP9, OPG, D-dimer, HCY, and CRP concentrations were measured in preoperative and postoperative plasma samples. The association of these markers with endoleak diagnosis was assessed using linear mixed effects adjusted as before. The potential for each marker to diagnose endoleak was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Seventy-five patients were included in the study, 24 of whom developed an endoleak during follow-up. Patients with an endoleak had significantly larger AAA sac diameters than those who did not have an endoleak. None of the assessed markers showed a significant association with endoleak. This was confirmed through receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicating poor diagnostic ability for all markers. Conclusions: Circulating concentrations of MMP9, OPG, D-dimer, HCY, and CRP were not associated with endoleak in patients undergoing EVAR in this study.