Heritable thoracic aortic disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Disease of the wall of the thoracic aorta has many causes: inflammation, infection and atherosclerosis are the most common 'acquired' causes, but even these have genetic predispositions. This article deals with aortic disease due to mutations in specific genes. The conditions can affect tissues and organs other than the aorta (syndromic) or be limited to the aorta (nonsyndromic). RECENT FINDINGS: A classification scheme based on the gene is emerging, those that affect primarily the extracellular matrix (e.g., FBN1, COL3A1), TGF-β signaling (e.g., TGFBR1, TGFB2), or vascular smooth muscle cell contractility (e.g., ACTA2, MYH11). SUMMARY: Understanding pathogenesis is driving the development of novel therapies, such as angiotensin receptor blockade, which is in clinical trial. However, recurrent imaging, restriction of exercise, β-adrenergic blockade, and prophylactic surgery remain effective in preventing dissection and sudden death.