Aortic dissection risk factors

Aortic dissection Microchapters
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Case #1

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Overview

Aging, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension and trauma are common risk factors for aortic dissection. Uncommon risk factors include Bicuspid aortic valve, cocaine, Coarctation of the aorta, Cystic medial necrosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Giant cell arteritis, Heart surgery, Marfan’s syndrome, Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Turner's syndrome, Tertiary syphilis and the third trimester of pregnancy

Risk Factors

• Aging
• Atherosclerosis and its associated risk factors like diabetes
• Bicuspid aortic valve is present in approximately 7%-14% of patients
• Cocaine abuse
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Cystic medial necrosis
• Deceleration trauma most commonly causes aortic rupture, not dissection
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Giant cell arteritis
• Heart surgery or procedures
• Hypertension is seen in 71-86% of patients, occurring most frequently in those with type III dissection
• Marfan’s syndrome is present in 6% of patients
• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
• Turner's syndrome
• Tertiary syphilis
• Third trimester of pregnancy