STUDY OBJECTIVES: We noted clinically that patients with aortic root aneurysms and dissections seemed to have little systemic atherosclerosis. It is our objective to determine whether there is a negative association between ascending thoracic aneurysms and systemic atherosclerosis. DESIGN: Atherosclerosis was quantified by evaluating non-contrast CT images of the chest and scoring the degree of calcifications as a marker for atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries and aorta. PATIENTS: The degree of calcification was compared in 64 patients with aortic root aneurysm (annuloaortic ectasia, 31 patients; type A dissection, 33 patients) vs 86 control subjects. Multivariable analysis was applied to test for an association between aortic root aneurysms and systemic calcification independent of risk factors for atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis revealed that patients with ascending aortic aneurysms of the annuloaortic ectasia type and patients with type A dissections had significantly lower overall calcification scores in their arterial vessels compared to patients in the control group (p = 0.03 and p < 0.0001, respectively). These results were independent of all other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and age were all found to increase the degree of atherosclerosis (p < 0.01 to 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic root pathology (annuloaortic ectasia or type A dissection) is associated with decreased systemic atherosclerosis. It is possible that a mechanism exists whereby the same genetic mutations predisposing patients to ascending aortic aneurysms also exert a protective effect against systemic atherosclerosis.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: We noted clinically that patients with aortic root aneurysms and dissections seemed to have little systemic atherosclerosis. It is our objective to determine whether there is a negative association between ascending thoracic aneurysms and systemic atherosclerosis. DESIGN:Atherosclerosis was quantified by evaluating non-contrast CT images of the chest and scoring the degree of calcifications as a marker for atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries and aorta. PATIENTS: The degree of calcification was compared in 64 patients with aortic root aneurysm (annuloaortic ectasia, 31 patients; type A dissection, 33 patients) vs 86 control subjects. Multivariable analysis was applied to test for an association between aortic root aneurysms and systemic calcification independent of risk factors for atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis revealed that patients with ascending aortic aneurysms of the annuloaortic ectasia type and patients with type A dissections had significantly lower overall calcification scores in their arterial vessels compared to patients in the control group (p = 0.03 and p < 0.0001, respectively). These results were independent of all other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and age were all found to increase the degree of atherosclerosis (p < 0.01 to 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic root pathology (annuloaortic ectasia or type A dissection) is associated with decreased systemic atherosclerosis. It is possible that a mechanism exists whereby the same genetic mutations predisposing patients to ascending aortic aneurysms also exert a protective effect against systemic atherosclerosis.
Authors: Shohreh Maleki; Hanna M Björck; Valentina Paloschi; Sanela Kjellqvist; Lasse Folkersen; Veronica Jackson; Anders Franco-Cereceda; Per Eriksson Journal: Aorta (Stamford) Date: 2013-06-01
Authors: Helena Kuivaniemi; Natzi Sakalihasan; Frank A Lederle; Gregory T Jones; Jean-Olivier Defraigne; Nicos Labropoulos; Victor Legrand; Jean-Baptiste Michel; Christoph Nienaber; Marc A Radermecker; John A Elefteriades Journal: Aorta (Stamford) Date: 2013-06-01
Authors: Andrew J Lovy; Jessica K Rosenblum; Jeffrey M Levsky; Alla Godelman; Benjamin Zalta; Vineet R Jain; Linda B Haramati Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 3.959