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Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Measurement of Pulse Propagation Velocity, Distensibility and Strain in an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Mouse Model
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Predictors and Rate of Progression of Aortic Root and Ascending Aorta Dilatation

Avinashsingh Eswarsingh1, Abhishek Bose2, Tareq Islam3

  • 1Department of Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|August 20, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysms show minimal growth over 10 years. Current guidelines for yearly imaging of aortic root dilatation and ascending aortic dilatation may need revision for less frequent follow-up intervals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysm is often indolent without specific risk factors.
  • Current guidelines recommend annual or biannual imaging (CT, MRI, TTE) for thoracic aorta surveillance.
  • The rate of progression and predictors of early aortic root dilatation (ARD) and ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the rate of progression in degenerative ARD and AAD over 10 years using echocardiographic measurements.
  • To identify predictors of early ARD and AAD progression.
  • To evaluate the necessity of current surveillance imaging recommendations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart analysis of 340 patients with known ARD and AAD.
  • Serial echocardiograms were used to measure aortic root and ascending aorta dimensions over 10 years.
  • Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for demographics, risk factors, and medication use.

Main Results:

  • The mean change in ARD over 10 years was 0.28 ± 0.71 mm.
  • The mean change in AAD over 10 years was 0.15 ± 0.18 mm.
  • No statistically significant increase in ARD or AAD unit change was observed on multivariate regression.

Conclusions:

  • Mild to moderate degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysms exhibit minimal dimensional changes over time.
  • Current guidelines recommending yearly surveillance imaging for ARD and AAD may warrant revision.
  • More liberal follow-up intervals could be considered for patients with mild to moderate degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysms.

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