Blood test can screen for the ‘silent killer’ of men over 65

A blood test could reduce the number of deaths from a ‘silent killer’ condition that affects one in 20 men over the age of 65.

Researchers have developed a test that can detect if patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms are at risk of a life-threatening rupture.

The aneurysms – the swelling and weakening of an artery wall – occur in the aorta as it passes through the abdomen. They can increase in size over time and eventually rupture.

Aneurysms are often called a silent killer because patients can display no warning symptoms.

Men are six times more likely to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm than women and are screened at the age of 65 for the condition. Around 80 per

‘Terrible uncertainty for patients to live with’

cent of all patients with a ruptured aneurysm die. Albert Einstein, the German scientist who developed the theory of relativity, died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in 1955, aged 76.

A team from the University of dundee’s School of Medicine have devised a blood test that detects the presence of desmosine, an amino acid that diseased aortas release into the blood.

They believe this can improve diagnosis and monitoring, while possibly helping to develop therapies to slow down progression.

The researchers say that measuring the level of desmosine will identify which patients are in most urgent need of treatment.

dr Anna Maria Choy, senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant cardiologist at the University of dundee, said: ‘We need to find a better way to detect and monitor aneurysms as it is a terrible amount of uncertainty for patients and their families to live with.

‘This could potentially help to save lives by picking up danger signs missed by the current screening programme and identifying which patients should be offered surgery.’