Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) Causes

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) Causes

Thoracic aortic aneurysms may be caused by different disease processes, especially in respect to their location.

Ascending thoracic aneurysm causes

• Cystic medial degeneration (necrosis) - Breaking down of the tissue of the aortic wall. This is the most common cause of this type of thoracic aortic aneurysm.
• Genetic disorders which affect the connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Family history of thoracic aortic aneurysm with no incidence of Marfan syndrome
  
• Atherosclerosis - Hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. This is a rare cause of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm.
• Infection, syphilis (rare causes of thoracic aortic aneurysm)

Aortic arch thoracic aneurysm causes

• Takayasu's arteritis - A type of vasculitis that causes inflammation of the arteries
• Atherosclerosis
  
• Continuation of an ascending and/or descending aortic aneurysm

Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm causes

Atherosclerosis is most often associated with descending thoracic aneurysms, and is thought to play an important role in aneurysmal disease, including the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis such as:

• Age (greater than 55)
• Male gender
• Family history (first-degree relatives such as father or brother)
• Genetic factors
• Hyperlipidemia (elevated fats in the blood)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Smoking
• Diabetes