Expression of circulating miRNA before and after abdominal aneurysm repair

INTRODUCTION: Numerous studies have identified various miRNAs involved in aortic aneurysm pathology. This study investigates circulating miRNAs before and after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (open surgical repair [OSR] or endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]). METHODS: In this prospective, non-randomized, two-arm study, all eligible patients who underwent elective surgery from 2019 to 2021 for infrarenal aortic aneurysm were enrolled. Preoperative, postoperative (day 3), and follow-up serum samples (3 and 12 months) were collected. Circulating miR-29b/29c, miR-155, and miR-15a were analyzed using RT-qPCR. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients (87.2% male) were enrolled (Group I: OSR, n=17; Group II: EVAR, n=22). There were no significant differences in the expression of circulating miR-155, miR-15a, miR-29b, or miR-29c between Groups I and II during follow-up. However, subgroup analysis showed significantly lower expression of miR-15a in EVAR patients without an endoleak compared to those with an endoleak, as well as in patients undergoing open repair in the early postoperative phase (day 3). CONCLUSION: Our study found no significant differences in the expression of miR-155, miR-15a, miR-29b, or miR-29c before and after aneurysm repair, regardless of the surgical approach. However, early postoperative expression of miR-15a was significantly lower in EVAR patients without an endoleak, suggesting a potential role for miR-15a in early aortic remodeling following EVAR.