Aneurysm + Family History

[drsd2007]

Ok so my grandfather suffered from aortic aneurysm on September 10th which almost took his life, luckily it didn't. We've had a family history of aneurysms on my grandpa's side of the family, he lost his two brothers from aneurysms. His one brother I have no idea where he had his aneurysm and the other brother had an aneurysm in his abdomen. My question is since there's a family history of it from his brothers and him; is this a type of thing that the rest of the genepool should keep an eye out such as my dad, my uncle, my aunt, me, my siblings, and my cousins since we all are blood related? Or does that even matter? Does it have a bigger affect on the men then the women in my family?

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

Clearly the family members should be checked and for abdominal aneurysms a simple sonogram can tell if an aneurysm is present.  Both men and women can have the aneurysms.  Detection is the key and be proactive!!

[hgower]

A related discussion, INFRARENAL AORTIC ANEUISM 45 MM WITH EXTENSIVE MURAL THROMBUS IN ABDOMEN was started.