Common drug found to repair aortic disorder

A drug commonly prescribed for high blood pressure may be able to save lives by blocking the formation of lethal aneurysms in patients with Marfan syndrome, according to a report today in the journal Science.

Although the research was conducted in mice, it was so promising that the team will begin testing it in babies and children with the genetic disorder within a few months.

"This is a landmark discovery," said Dr. Alan C. Braverman, who heads the Marfan Syndrome Clinic at Washington University in St. Louis.

The drug, called losartan, prevented the abnormal growth that enlarges and stresses the walls of the aorta, the main artery leading away from the heart.

The enlargement leaves the aorta vulnerable to tears. Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman and "Rent" playwright Jonathan Larson, among others, died when their Marfan-weakened aortas burst.

Researchers were excited because the drug not only stopped the abnormal growth of the aorta, but also repaired the fragmented structure, they said.

"This represents a potentially curative therapy, which is very different from saying, 'My patients won't get as bad as fast,' " said Dr. Craig T. Basson, director of cardiovascular research at Weill Medical College at Cornell University in New York.

The results could also apply to other diseases involving the aorta because many of them share the same biological mechanism, Basson said.

"I think this is one of the most important studies that has been published in the past, say, 10 years for individuals with aortic aneurysm disease," he said.

•	Common Drug Found to Repair Aortic Disorder The discovery marks a breakthrough for those with Marfan syndrome. Human tests will begin. Los Angeles Times, Friday, April 7, 2006 Byline: Jia-Rui Chong, Times Staff Writer