title: Coexistent true aortic aneurysm as a cause of acute aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic aneurysms are found in 5-20% of patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD). Coexisting aortic aneurysms might potentially influence the incidence of AAD. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of coexistent aortic aneurysms in AAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 140 patients with AAD were enrolled in the present study. Clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated in relation to the locations of aortic segments affected by the dissection as well as of the coexistent aortic aneurysm. Among the 140 study patients, 34 (24%) had true aortic aneurysms. Patients with coexistent aortic aneurysm were significantly older than those without (72 +/- 11 years vs 65 +/- 14 years, P=0.012) and had higher incidence of thrombosed false lumen (62% vs 38%, P=0.017), and coronary artery disease (26% vs 8%, P=0.006). Twenty-two of these 34 (65%) patients had a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), and this frequency of TAA was much higher than that observed in the general population. Furthermore, among all patients with AAD, 12 patients (9%) might be associated with development of AAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study showed that nearly one-quarter of AAD patients had coexisting true aortic aneurysms, and suggests that TAA are likely to be associated with development of AAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuiichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamori
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akutsu
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimuta
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nonogi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeshita
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed