title: Managing aortic aneurysms and dissections during pregnancy.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy account for significant morbidity and mortality, with aortic aneurysms, complicated by aortic dissection or rupture, being high on the list of underlying causes in this category. Correct knowledge of the diagnosis, risks and treatment is mandatory to improve the outcome and save lives. In this article, the authors aim to provide an overview of the underlying causes and risk factors for aortic aneurysms and dissections during pregnancy, while presenting the ways of preventing and treating these conditions. Although an important focus lies on the proximal part of the aorta due to it bearing the greatest risk for complications and being more frequently implicated in aortic disease in younger subjects, many aspects on the etiology and underlying diseases also apply to the other parts of the vessel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muiño Mosquera
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Backer
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Marfan syndrome; Turner syndrome; beta-blockers; bicuspid aortic valve; coarctation; pregnancy; thoracic aneurysm; thoracic dissection; valve-sparing surgery