What diseases cause Aortic Dissections

Aortic dissections can be caused by a number of diseases and other health conditions that weaken the aortic wall, including:

Connective tissue disorders: Such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and Loeys-Dietz syndrome

Aortic inflammation: Also known as aortitis

Atherosclerosis: A condition that can lead to plaque formation in the artery

High blood pressure: Also known as hypertension, this is implicated in more than 60% of cases

Congenital heart valve defects: Such as bicuspid aortic valve

Polycystic kidney disease: A common risk factor for aortic dissection

Trauma: Such as from a car accident or fall

Other risk factors include:

Family history of aortic aneurysm or dissection

Age over 50

Male gender

Pregnancy

Using cocaine

High-intensity weightlifting

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