Aortic dissection can occur during pregnancy in women with an underlying disorder affecting the connective tissue of the aorta. Occasionally the aortic dissection is the first indication of the underlying condition.
The dissection may occur during the pregnancy or in the puerperium.
Type A dissections are the more common type.
Underlying conditions associated with aortic dissection during pregnancy include:
(1) Marfan syndrome (most common)
(2) Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
(3) Turner syndrome
(4) Loeys-Dietz syndrome
(5) familial thoracic aortic aneurysm
(6) other aortopathy
For a woman at risk counseling is recommended prior to pregnancy, with frequent monitoring of the size of the aorta.
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