Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAD)
develop asymptomatically until occurs aortic rupture or dissection often cause
of morbidity. A high mortality is determined by TAAD and complications
developing. 15,000 people die every year due to the complications of TAAD in
USA. It takes 14th place according to the reasons of mortality among 55 years
people and older.
The main risk factors for TAAD
formation still remain under discussion. Hypertension, atherosclerosis, age,
gender and eventually genetic predisposition are on the focus for the research.
Only in certain cases it is caused by aortitis, atherosclerosis or inherited as a single gene mutation: in the fibrillin genes - Marfan syndrome, by inherited
collagen mutations as in Ehler-Danlos syndrome, by mutations of the
transforming growth factor-beta gene causing Loeys-Dietz syndrome or by actin
gene mutations. Evidence has shown that FBN1 mutations may predispose TAA in
the absence of phenotypic characteristics of Marfan syndrome.
