title: Dilated aortic root is related to a global aortic dilating diathesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the dilatation of the aortic root and the diameters of the rest of the aorta and to identify some related factors that could be used to identify patients at higher risk of presenting with an aortic aneurysm.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 71 consecutive patients with a dilated aortic root identified by transthoracic echocardiography, prospective helical computed tomography was performed. Aortic diameters were measured perpendicular to the flow at seven levels in the thoracic and abdominal aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ascending aorta diameter showed a moderate correlation with aortic indexed diameters at the thoracic and abdominal level in tricuspid aortic valve patients (r ranging from 0.37-0.56), whereas in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve, a moderate correlation between the ascending aorta diameters and the thoracic descending aorta diameters was observed (r 0.51-0.53). In a multivariate analysis, age was independently related to indexed diameter at all aortic sites (β ranging from 0.06-0.12 per year), whereas aortic regurgitation was independently related only to thoracic aorta diameter (β ranging from 1.17-1.84). Age (P < .0001), body surface area (P < .0001), and grade of aortic valve regurgitation (P = .001) independently predicted aortic volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different patterns of aortic diameters were observed in patients with dilated aortic root, depending on age, aortic valve morphology, and function. When a dilated aortic root is detected in older patients with a tricuspid aortic valve, an accurate cardiovascular survey that includes the entire aorta is needed. These results provide further evidence about the systemic nature of aortic dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Secció de Cardiologia, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Reus, Spain. txalegret@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alegret
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ligero
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palomares
authors.forename: Lidón
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Millá
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martín-Paredero
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joven
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001830:Body Surface Area; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed