Pathophysiology of Acute Aortic Syndromes

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in most Western societies and is increasing steadily in many developed countries. Aortic diseases constitute an emerging share of this burden. New diagnostic imaging modalities, longer life expectancy in general, longer exposure to elevated blood pressure, and the proliferation of modern noninvasive imaging modalities have all contributed to the growing awareness of acute and chronic aortic syndromes. Despite recent progress in recognition of both the epidemiological problem and diagnostic and therapeutic advances, cardiology and the medical community in general are far from comfortable in understanding the spectrum of aortic syndromes and defining an optimal pathway to manage aortic diseases1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. This chapter reviews the etiology of aortic wall disease, natural history, and the pathophysiology of the complexity of acute aortic syndromes.