Prediction of Aortic Dilation and Rupture in Different Predisposing Pathologies A Prospective Clinical Study

Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to explore prognostic parameters for aortic dilation. More specifically it is to identify prognostic imaging parameters which could be used to identify patients at high risk for rapid aortic dilation and should be intensively followed by imaging methods.

Subtrials

Clinical study 1 The aim of the first phase of the study targets to identify 4D MRI flow parameters which are characteristic to dilated aorta and might be used to evaluate future prognosis in patients with aortic dilatation or predisposing factors.

Clinical study 2 The second phase of the study aims to use identified flow parameters in clinical imaging follow up to find out which parameters predict aortic dilation in real life and thus could be used to select patients for more intensive imaging in future.

Study 3 - Molecular pathology, histology and genetics of aorta The aim of this part of the study is to find out differences in molecular biology, histology, elasticity and genetics of the aorta in patients having predisposing factors for aortic dilation. Particularly, cellular factors influencing the formation of connective tissue and vascular smooth muscle layer will be studied.

Methods

Patient population All patients and healthy volunteers will give their written informed consent for the study. The Ethical Committee of Northern Savo hospital district has given approval for the trial.