Promising Treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Shown to Decrease Size, while COVID-19 Infection May Accelerate Growth

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening condition that affects the main blood vessel supplying blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. AAA occurs when the aorta wall weakens and bulges outwards, potentially leading to rupture, which is often fatal. Traditional treatment might involve surgery, but thanks to modern medical advancements, scientists recently discovered a better way to treat AAA.

Promising Treatment for AAA Coined by Scientists

A group of scientists from the University of Bristol coined a promising non-surgical treatment for AAA, as it has proven to decrease size up to a third. The treatment is known as PSMA-targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) and has been trialed successfully in mice. PDT involves injecting a light-sensitive drug, which only sticks to the cells within the AAA. Following drug injection, a light source is then applied to the drug-affected area, killing the cells causing the bulge.

The therapy’s success marks a significant breakthrough that could help millions of people living with AAA worldwide. Clinical trials are still ongoing, but the results so far indicated that PDT is a promising non-invasive alternative to surgical treatments.

COVID-19 and AAA

I know the difficulties associated with COVID-19 have dominated all medical conversations this year, but researchers have found that the said pandemic might have an adverse effect on those suffering from AAA. Studies suggested that individuals living with AAA, who also contracted COVID-19, saw an acceleration in the growth of their aneurysm.

The findings suggest that patients who test positive for COVID-19 need to be more vigilant and should monitor their AAA more closely. Catching an aneurysm’s growth earlier could potentially mean the difference between life and death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, scientists have stumbled on a potential cure for AAA, and PDT is a breakthrough for non-invasive AAA treatment. While the clinical trials continue, early evidence suggests that PDT could revolutionize AAA treatment, replacing radical surgical treatments – which cause a lot of pain and discomfort to patients. As for COVID-19, individuals who are at risk of AAA should be more vigilant with their medical checkup and learn how to monitor their symptoms so that any growth in the aneurysm can be diagnosed at an early stage, and treated promptly.

#AAATreatment #COVID19 #HealthTips #MedicalBreakthrough #NonSurgicalTreatment

Summary: Scientists from the University of Bristol have discovered a new non-surgical treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), known as PSMA-targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT), which has shown the potential to decrease the AAA’s size up to a third. Meanwhile, research also found that COVID-19 may accelerate AAA growth, urging those at risk to remain vigilant and keep monitoring their symptoms. Clinical trials are ongoing for the PDT treatment, and early signs show that it could revolutionize AAA treatments and save many lives. #HEALTH