title: Type B aortic dissection triggered by heart transplantation in a patient with Marfan syndrome.
abstract: Heart transplantation in patients with Marfan syndrome is challenging and raises concerns with regards to the haemodynamic and immunosuppressive-induced effects on the inherently fragile aorta. Most aortic events following transplantation reported so far in the literature occurred in patients with pre-existent distal aortic dissection. We report a case of successful orthotopic heart transplantation in a patient with Marfan syndrome that was complicated by late-onset type B dissection in pre-existing mild and stable distal aortic dilation. Serial aortic imaging revealed progressive growth at the level of the descending thoracic aorta. An open thoracoabdominal aortic repair procedure was successfully performed 6 months after the transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tjorven
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Audenaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: François
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Backer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome