There are known risk factors for thoracic aortic disease, some of which are genetic.
General risk factors:
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Atherosclerosis
- Injury from deceleration accidents
- Cocaine use
- Inflammation - Takayasu's, giant cell arteritis, rheumatoid arthritis
- Infection - tuberculosis, syphilis
Genetic conditions:
-
Bicuspid Aortic Valve families
- Familial Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection (TAAD)
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome
- Marfan syndrome
- Turners syndrome
Genetic conditions may result in connective tissue abnormalities throughout the body, such as the following:
- Spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Multiple hernia repairs
- Multiple back, knee, and shoulder surgeries
- Eyes - detached retina, dislocated lens
- Brain aneurysm or dissection of head or neck vessels
- Multiple cysts in kidney, liver, or pancreas
- Musculoskeletal affects (scoliosis, flat feet, double jointed)