Aortic Elongation and Dissection

Ascending Aortic Length in Relation to Age and the Occurrence of Type A Aortic Dissection

Aim of this study is to measure length of the ascending aorta in adults and to investigate the clinical implication of 'elongation' of the aorta.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Thoracic Aorta

Detailed Description

Regarding to aortic geometry, attention is often drawn to aortic diameters since an increase in these diameters (e.g. aneurysm) can lead to life-threatening complications such as dissection and/or rupture. In daily practice however (e.g. imaging reports), the investigators often encounter patients with elongation of the ascending aorta. Little is known about the length of the proximal aorta. Furthermore, the clinical implications of an elongated aorta are unknown.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 298

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Limburg
    • Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands, 6202AZ
      • Maastricht University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Reference group to assess 'normal' aortic length.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Underwent recent (<6 years) contrast-enhanced CT scan which allows for segmentation and assessment of aortic geometry.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years old.
• Prior thoracic, cardiac or aortic surgery.
• Genetic disease with cardiac and/or aortic involvement (e.g. Marfan's disease).
• Infectious disease of the aorta.
• Malignant disease with involvement of heart and/or aorta.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Healthy controls; Healthy control patients
Type A dissection; Patients with proven type A dissection,

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Length of the ascending aorta	Ascending aortic length as measured on computed tomography.	Up to 72 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joachim Wildberger, MD, PhD, Head of department of Radiology

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 23, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): March 30, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 22, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2017
• Last Verified: March 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Ascending aorta; Elongation of the aorta; Type A dissection; Aortic rupture; Aortic length
• Other Study ID Numbers: 16-4-027

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO