aortic dissection: etiology

• usually degenerative, d/t aging

• increased risk:
  • HTN
  • bicuspic aortic valve
  • aortic coarctation
  • pregnancy
  • connective tissue disorder (Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos)
  • skeletal abnormalities (scoliosis, pectus)
  • mycotic aneurysm
  • Takayasu (giant cell) arteritis
  • aortic laceration

  see also: classification

© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18