Aortic dissection causes

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]

Causes of aortic dissection

The exact cause is unknown, but risks include atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure. Traumatic injury is a major cause of aortic dissection, especially blunt trauma to the chest. Hitting the steering wheel of a car during an accident is a common traumatic cause.

Other risk factors and conditions associated with the development of aortic dissection include:

• Aging
• Bicuspid aortic valve
• Coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta
• Connective tissue disorders
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Heart surgery or procedures
• Marfan syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
• Vascular inflammation due to conditions such as arteritis and syphilis

Acknowledgements

The content on this page was first contributed by: David Feller-Kopman, MD and C. Michael Gibson M.S., M.D.