title: Diseases of the Aorta in Elite Athletes.
abstract: Sudden cardiovascular deaths in athletes are rare and only a fraction are due to aortic events. There has been concern that the hemodynamic load during exercise may lead to aortic dilation, but aortic dimensions in endurance and strength-trained athletes are only slightly larger than those in sedentary comparison subjects. The presence of a bicuspid aortic valve without significant valvular dysfunction and normal aortic dimensions should not influence eligibility to practice sport. Patients with genetic syndromes associated with aortopathy generally should be restricted from vigorous sports participation. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of diseases of the aorta in athletes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, 55 North Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iskandar
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102, USA. Electronic address: paul.thompson@hhchealth.org.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D056352:Athletes; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Acute aortic syndromes; Aortic dilation; Bicuspid aortic valve; Sudden cardiac death in athletes