What causes an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

What causes an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

The following diseases can damage your blood vessel walls or cause weak spots where aneurysms might develop:

• Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup inside your arteries).
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Traumatic injuries that cause tears in the artery wall.
• Tobacco use causes loss of structural proteins in the artery wall, leading to reduced wall strength.
• Vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation).

Research suggests AAA may also relate to genes you inherit from your parents. Some genetic diseases that affect connective tissues, such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers Danlos type IV, can also cause blood vessel weakness or damage. These conditions more commonly affect the aorta in the chest but also the abdominal aorta.