NIH R01 · 2025
Platelets as Biosensors and Mediators of Aortic Aneurysm Growth
Project Summary Asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can progress to rupture with an out-of-hospital mortality of 90%. Accelerated AAA growth is associated with platelet activation and platelet aggregates (thrombi) in aneurysmal segments. Antiplatelet drugs may limit AAA growth and rupture risk. A mechanistic explanation for these observations has never been elucidated. This project builds upon our discovery that platelets from patients with AAA are hyperactivated through selective surface receptors and that the antiplatelet drug aspirin partially inhibits AAA growth and rupture. This suggests a new link between platelet activation and aneurysm development, and implies aspirin may…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.