Acute aortic dissection (AAD) refers to a sudden tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the large blood vessel branching off the heart. The risk of pregnancy-related AAD is high in women with aortopathy. This study aims to determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes in women with pregnancy-related AAD.

This cohort study included a total of 29 women (mean age 32) with pregnancy-related AAD during pregnancy or less than 12 weeks postpartum. The primary outcomes of the study were clinical features of pregnancy-related AAD, including underlying aortopathy, aortic size, type of aortic dissection, hypertension, previous aortic surgery, and the time of dissection.

The findings suggested that pregnancy-related AAD occurred in 20 of 105 women. Of 29 women included in the study, 13 had type A aortic dissection, and 16 had type B aortic dissection. The onset of AAD was recognized in 27 women: 15 during pregnancy, 4 in the first trimester, and 11 in the third trimester. The findings further suggested that 20 women had an aortopathy condition or a positive family history.

The research concluded that acute aortic dissection resulting in pregnancy complications is rare. It was also confirmed that most pregnancy-related AADs were due to aortopathy.

Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2771679?resultClick=1

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