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Aortic Aneurysm
- Overview
-
Health Tools
- FAQs
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Increases Your Risk
- When to Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Ongoing Concerns
- Living With an Aortic Aneurysm
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Abdominal
and
thoracicaortic aneurysms are caused by a number of factors,
including:
- Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Exactly how
atherosclerosis leads to abdominal aortic aneurysms is
unclear. It is thought that
atherosclerosis causes changes in the lining of the
artery wall that may affect oxygen and nutrient flow to the aortic wall
tissues. The resulting tissue damage and breakdown may lead to the development
of an
aneurysm.
- Genetics. In some people who have
Marfan's syndrome,
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or other inherited conditions,
the walls of the major arteries, including the
aorta, are weakened. Aortic aneurysms run in
families.
- Aging. The aorta naturally becomes less elastic and stiffer with age, increasing the risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Infections. Infections such as syphilis and endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart, can cause aneurysms.
- Injury. A sudden, intense blow to the chest or abdomen, such as hitting the steering wheel in a car accident, can damage the aorta.
- Inflammation. Inflammation of the aorta can weaken the aortic wall. Researchers have investigated several conditions, but what causes the aorta to become inflamed is not clear.
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are much less common than abdominal aortic aneurysms. They are often caused by an abnormal breakdown of the elastic fibers in the aortic wall. Other causes of thoracic aneurysms include aortic coarctation (often resulting from a genetic disorder such as Turner's syndrome).
More information |
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 26, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery | |
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