title: Adult degenerative scoliosis associated with increased aortic diameter and plaque burden and composition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) and the aortic plaques and diameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 219 patients with ADS and 100 control patients without ADS. Diameters of ascending, arch, descending and abdominal aorta and number, localization and types of the aortic plaques, and the Cobb angles of all patients were measured from computed tomography (CT) images. We divided the patients with ADS into three groups according to the Cobb angle, and divided them into four groups according to level of spine deformity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with ADS had a larger aorta and more aortic plaques (both, p < 0.001). The patients with ADS had more fibro-fatty and mix plaques (both, p < 0.001). The patients with severe ADS had larger diameters of the ascending and arch of the aorta (p = 0.026 and p = 0.027, respectively). The patients with the main thoracic curve had a larger ascending aorta and the patients with a thoracolumbar curve had more aortic plaques (p = 0.035 and p = 0.029, respectively). In multivariate regression analysis, the ADS was an independent risk factor for both aortic dilatation (>3.6 cm) and aortic plaque build-up (both, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ADS may be a risk factor for aortic dilatation and aortic atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey drburakayca@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ayça
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Samatya Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Taşkın
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakıcı
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Metin Sabancı Baltalimanı Bone Disease Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atıcı
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avsar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Samatya Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Muğla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akın
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okuyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakan Dinckal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey
keywords: Adult degenerative scoliosis; aorta; aortic dilatation; aortic plaque