Aortic dissection

[trgf]

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Does aortic dissection have any link with atherosclerosis? Gunnertraining and Uworld seem to contradict one another.
If you think about it, aneurysms and atherosclerosis are related. Also aneurysm could be a cause of aortic dissection.
So I don't understand why GT says there is no connection.

 

[nkhan]

I thought dissection was due to mostly HTN or some connective tissue disorder (eg. marfans, ehlers danlos, etc. leading to a weakened elastic tissue within the intima). Certainly hypertension can also be associated with atherosclerosis here but I think the key to remember is it is usually due to cystic medial necrosis. Note that cystic medial necrosis is just a misnomer--it's actually in the intima, and its only degradation of collagen/elastin so it's not really necrosis either. This leads to a weakening of the tunica intima and predisposition to a tear (dissection).

The key parts to remember anyhow are it's association with the connective tissue disorders, the physical findings (tearing chest pain radiating to back if it's a descending aorta dissection). Obviously there will be a widening of the aorta on imaging studies.

Hope this helps!

 

[Bacchus]

Our cardiologist told us that an aortic plaque can be dislodged and form a rent allowing blood to get between the intima and media leading to a dissection. A quick google search will produce papers.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/clc.4960161011/pdf

 

[tootheye]

A recent article from Mayo clinic (google) stated atherosclerosis as one of the risk factors in aortic dissection.

 

[peanut11]

Robbins says atherosclerosis is related to aortic dissection. Not that robbins is god...but hey...close!

 

[mddoc1]

I think it's a relatively new research because even BRS had said that there is no link. However, our professor had said that there was.

 

[Chemist0157]

I've been taught (and AFAIK have not found anything contradicting while studying) that HTN leads to dissections and atherosclerosis is more connected to aneurysms.