Expression of TGF-ß/Smad pathway-related indices in patients with isolated iliac artery aneurysms complicated with iliac arteriovenous fistula and their relationship with prognosis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the expression of TGF-ß/Smad pathway-related indices in patients with isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IIAA) complicated with iliac arteriovenous fistula (IAVF) and their relationship with prognosis. METHODS: From January 2016 to June 2022, 83 patients with IIAA complicated with IAVF (Study group) and 54 patients with IIAA not complicated with IAVF (control group) were studied. The related indices of TGF-ß/Smad pathway were evaluated, and the effects of each index on the formation of IAVF were analyzed. The patients were divided into the survival group (64 cases) and death group (19 cases), and the prognostic value of indices in combination was analyzed. RESULTS: TGF-ß, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, p-JNK, and p-ERK in the study group were higher than those in the control group. Abnormal increase of pSmad3 expression was a risk factor for IAVF formation in patients with IIAA. TGF-ß level in the death group was higher than that in the survival group, and p-Smad3 and p-JNK proteins were higher than those in the survival group. The AUC value of indices in the TGF-ß/Smad pathway in combination was greater than that of each index alone. Abnormal increased expression of pSmad3 was a risk factor for prognosis of patients with IIAA complicated with IAVF. CONCLUSION: The abnormal increase of TGF-ß/Smad pathway-related indices is related to poor prognosis of patients with IIAA complicated with IAVF, and the combined detection of all indices has a predictive value for patients' prognosis.