Familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection

What it is

Familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection is a rare genetic vascular disease characterized by the familial occurrence of thoracic aortic aneurysm, dissection or dilatation affecting one or more aortic segments (aortic root, ascending aorta, arch or descending aorta) in the absence of any other associated disease. Depending on the size, location and progression rate of dilatation/dissection, patients may be asymptomatic or may present dyspnea, cough, jaw, neck, chest or back pain, head, neck or upper limb edema, difficulty swallowing, voice hoarseness, pale skin, faint pulse and/or numbness/tingling in limbs. Patients have increased risk of presenting life threatening aortic rupture.

Key facts

Prevalence

<1 / 1 000 000

Age of onset

Adolescent, Adult, Childhood

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant

Classified as

Disease

Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.

Signs and symptoms

These ranges are how often a sign appears across everyone diagnosed, not a prediction for one person — most people have some of these and not others. Orphanet also records findings that are specifically absent in this disease; those are in the data but not listed here.

Genes

ICD-10 codes

Related health topics

Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.

Cross-references