title: Aortic dissection in pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening disease. The most common predisposing cause is chronic hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 38-year-old multipara with chronic hypertension was admitted at 38 weeks of gestation reporting new-onset severe chest pain. Cardiac enzymes, blood gases, electrocardiogram, and chest radiograph were normal. The chest pain and the hypertension worsened despite treatment with narcotics. Bedside transesophageal echocardiography revealed aortic dissection. Uneventful cesarean delivery was followed by surgical repair of the aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortic dissection should be considered when a pregnant woman presents with preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension and intractable chest pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lenox-Hill Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weissmann-Brenner
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Divon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology