Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi. 2026 Jul 25;61(7):537-545. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112141-20260303-00115.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with different risk factors of Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD), so as to provide evidence for early warning and stratified management. Methods: A total of 42 pregnant or puerperal women with pregnancy-associated TAAD admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to May 2026 were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into three groups according to risk factors: Marfan syndrome (MF) group, hypertension (HBP) group, and non-identified high-risk factor (N) group before TAAD onset. The onset characteristics, aortic diameter and maternal-fetal outcomes were compared among the three groups. Results: All 42 patients with TAAD underwent aortic surgery, and 4 cases (10%, 4/42) died. The neonatal survival rate was 100% (26/26) in pregnant women with onset in the third trimester of pregnancy, while the fetal loss rate reached 6/9 in those with onset in the second trimester. Typical clinical symptoms, such as sudden severe tearing or knife-like chest and back pain, with or without radiating pain were observed in 74% (31/42) of patients. There were 10 cases (24%) in the MF group, 12 cases (28%) in the HBP group, and 20 cases (48%) in the N group. The median aortic root diameter was 38.5 mm (31.0, 48.3 mm) in the HBP group, which was significantly smaller than 51.5 mm (43.5, 63.5 mm) in the MF group and 50.5 mm (44.5, 67.0 mm) in the N group (all P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was detected between the MF group and the N group (P>0.05). In the HBP group, 6/12 of pregnant women had an aortic root diameter less than 40 mm, whereas all patients in the MF group and N group had an aortic root diameter of 40 mm or above. The mortality rates of TAAD in MF group, HBP group and N group were 1/12, 0/10 and 15% (3/20), respectively, and the live birth rates were 10/12, 10/11 and 71% (15/21), respectively, without statistically significant differences among groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Pregnancy-related TAAD is fundamentally based on underlying aortic structural abnormalities. Hypertension could lower the critical aortic diameter for dissection. Occult aortic lesions are common in TAAD patients without risk factors. It is suggested that aortic ultrasound screening should be advanced to pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy, and more active monitoring and intervention strategies should be taken for hypertensive patients with aortic lesions.
PMID:42477915 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112141-20260303-00115