To address a potential diagnostic value of miR-574 - 5p , we measured its expression in serum samples from TAA patients and controls ( serum cohort ) . Interestingly , miR-574 - 5p was significantly up - regulated in the serum of patients with TAA compared to the control ( 3 - fold , p < 0.001 ; Figure 2D ) and this up - regulation was higher in patients with a large ( above 49 mm ) aneurysm ( Figure 2E ) . Of note , the cut - off of 49 mm corresponds to the median of the aortic diameter of the TAA group . Circulating levels of miR-574 - 5p are up - regulated in patients suffering TAA independently of the etiology of TAA , compared to the controls ( Figure S3 ) , and miR-574 - 5p levels were not significantly modulated by hyperlipidaemia or the smoking status , either in the control or in the TAA groups ( Figure S4 ) . The ROC ( receiver operating characteristic ) curve analysis revealed an association between miR-574 - 5p and the diagnostic of TAA with an area under the curve of 0.87 ( Figure 2F ) . MiR-574 - 5p discriminated the TAA patients from the controls with a specificity of 85 % and a sensitivity of 78.6 % . These data support a diagnostic potential of miR-574 - 5p for TAA .