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20 August 2006
My aortic aneurysm was diagnosed in January 2006. I was having difficulty swallowing and one of the tests performed was a CT scan of the chest which showed a 4.9 cm. aneurysm of the ascending aortic root. Treatment was started with a beta blocker (Inderol) and a diuretic (HCTZ) to reduce my blood pressure to below normal.
In May 2006, I read about the Johns Hopkins study by Dr. Dietz at Johns Hopkins on mice which had a Marfan like connective tissue genetic defect which predisposed them to develop aortic aneurysms. Mice given Cozaar from birth did not develop aneurysms, so I reasoned that Cozaar might have the potential to modify the course of aneurysm disease in human adults. Dr. Dietz warned me that the drug had not been tested on humans for aneurysm treatment and that I was at risk for aortic dissection or rupture. So, being adventuresome, I substituted 50 mg of Cozaar every 12 hours for the Inderol which I had been taking for blood pressure reduction to see if Cozaar had any effect on an old athosclerotic aorta with an aneurysm that was 1-6 mm. away from needing surgical replacement. I reasoned that there was no additional risk because Cozaar is an approved blood pressure reducing medication.
After taking Cozaar for 75 days, I had my 6 month follow up CT which showed a reduction in size of 2-3 mm. This change in the size of the aorta has changed my status from small aneurysm to enlarged aorta. I continue to take the Cozaar and will follow up every year with a CT scan.
Perhaps the reduction in blood pressure caused the improvement, perhaps the angle of the image or the rotation of the heart caused the aneurysm to appear smaller so that you cannot infer from this anecdotal experience that Cozaar cures human aortic aneurysms. If you have one you need to monitor it and heed any symptoms of trouble.
Also, there is a theory that the depletion of farm soils has caused a mineral deficiency in our food supply and that a copper deficiency in particular can cause aneurysms in turkeys, other farm animals and in humans. So, it would be prudent to take a mineral supplement just to be on the safe side. I take a vitamin and mineral tablet plus a colloidal mineral supplement containing copper daily.
I am a 74 year old retired dentist in good health who was fortunate in being diagnosed prior to needing surgery. Perhaps Cozaar may be the answer to keeping aneurysms from enlarging. In my case, I saw a small size reduction after 75 days of treatment and am hopeful that the beneficial effect will continue. If you have an aneurysm and choose to go the Cozaar route, you should be monitored by your personal physician, a cardiologist and a thoracic surgeon. You should have your disaster plan in place by selecting a hospital that does a high volume of aortic surgery and has good survival statistics like the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic or a University training hospital. You need to keep up to date regarding your disease and advances in its treatment.
Update: 18 October 2007
October 15, 2007, follow up CT Scan. Maximum diameter is now 4.5 cm. I take 50 mg of Cozaar, twice a day and 1 oz. of colloidal minerals for copper supplementation. 18 months of this regimen has reduced the size of the ascending aorta by 8%. The usual progression of aortic aneurysms is 1 or 2 mm. of expansion per year, so a 2 mm. reduction is significant and can only be attributed to both medications strengthening the middle, fibrous layer of the aorta and the beneficial effect of blood pressure reduction.
© Copyright 2006 Charles
Steiner
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