Rupture of a Type B Aortic Dissection in a Postpartum Patient with Marfan Syndrome

Abstract

Background Pregnant women with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are known to be at increased risk of aortic dissection; however, cases of aortic rupture are extremely rare. There is lack of consensus on the exact site and size of aortic diameter measurement that increases this risk, and whether this applies to both Type A and Type B dissections.

Case A 23-year-old G2P1001 with known Marfan syndrome who underwent an uncomplicated antepartum and intrapartum course. She experienced persistent backache 10 days postpartum that led to the diagnosis of Stanford Type B dissection. The patient was hospitalized for close observation. Dissection progressed to aortic rupture within 24 hours that required emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair. She had an uncomplicated postoperative course.

Conclusion Our report demonstrates rupture of a known aortic dissection within a very short time in the postpartum period. The case highlights the importance of patient education and close surveillance especially in the postpartum period. It also brings home the value of imaging of the whole aorta rather than focusing on the ascending alone. Multidisciplinary care and timely diagnosis and intervention likely led to the favorable outcome in our case.

Keywords

Marfan syndrome - pregnancy - aortic rupture - Type B aortic dissection

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant condition affecting 1:3000 to 1:5000 individuals due to a mutation in the gene encoding the connective tissue protein fibrillin-1 (FBN-1).[1] Affected individuals have a wide variety of phenotypic manifestations involving skeletal, renal, ocular, skin, and cardiovascular organ systems. Aortic root disease including aneurysm, regurgitation, and dissection accounts for the majority of the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in MFS. This morbidity likely stems from the loss of elastic lamellae and smooth muscle cells in the medial layer of the aorta, leaving it more vulnerable to shearing forces and dynamic changes in circulatory pressures.[2] [3] The physiologic changes of pregnancy that make pregnant women with MFS more vulnerable to complications of aortic disease are primarily related to intimal shear forces due to increase in cardiac output and hormonally mediated connective tissue alterations that may cause weakness of the arterial wall.[4] [5] Hemodynamic changes are more pronounced in the third trimester and postpartum period which may explain the increased propensity of aortic complications during this time frame.

The majority of the literature regarding pregnancy-related aortic dissection in MFS patients is limited to case studies, case series, or retrospective reviews, and therefore, the precise risk of aortic dissection in pregnancy remains unclear. Much of the data originates from studies in which the diagnosis of MFS was unknown during the index pregnancy. A literature review that included 1,142 pregnant patients with MFS demonstrated that the rate of cardiovascular complications in was 2% to 6%,[6] which may be an overestimate due to selection bias. Investigators have attempted to stratify risk of dissection in pregnancy based on aortic root diameter. Risk of dissection has been reported to be <1% if aortic root is <40 mm[7] [8] and as high as 10% if >40 mm[9]; however, evidence to support the latter claim is lacking.[10] [11] Nevertheless, the 2010 American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF/AHA) thoracic aortic disease guidelines recommend against pregnancy in women with MFS and an aortic root >40 mm, or for prophylactic repair in the event that they would like to become pregnant.[12]

Controversy exists regarding the aortic root diameter at which the risk of dissection and other cardiac complications becomes clinically significant. Based on prospective studies in which women were followed with serial aortic root measurements and were under the care of a cardiologist/multidisciplinary team during pregnancy, the risk of aortic complications appears to be low, including when the aortic root is >40 mm but less than 45 mm.[7] [11] [13] [14] [15] [16] Consistent with these findings, the 2014 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of aortic disease[17] and the 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society position statement on the management of thoracic aortic disease,[18] as well as the ESC guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy,[19] recommend against pregnancy when the aortic root is >45 mm, or 41 to 45 mm in cases a rapidly enlarging aortic root or family history of dissection/sudden death.

We describe a case of an adverse pregnancy-related outcome in a woman with MFS whose aortic root was <45 mm at the sinus of Valsalva and <40 mm at the sinotubular junction, despite preconception planning, early establishment of prenatal care, and close monitoring with a multidisciplinary specialty team in a quaternary care facility.

Case

The patient is a 23-year-old G2P1001 who established prenatal care at our institution at 13 weeks of pregnancy. Her past medical history was significant for MFS diagnosed at age 12 years based on Revised Ghent Nosology.[20] There was no family history of MFS, cardiac disease, or sudden death. She had a prior uncomplicated, term vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery approximately 2 years ago at our institution. The aortic root was stable throughout that pregnancy and postpartum period at 3.9 cm. Postnatally, an FBN1 mutation was confirmed in both the patient and her newborn.

One month prior to conception in the currently described pregnancy, an echocardiogram at an outside hospital demonstrated an aortic root diameter of 42 mm. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest confirmed this measurement and there were no ascending or descending aortic aneurysms or dissections noted. The abdominal aorta was not imaged. Repeat echocardiogram at our institution was performed at 17 weeks EGA that revealed aortic root of 42 mm at the sinus of Valsalva and 31 mm at the sinotubular junction. She was counseled on the risks of MFS in pregnancy and desired to continue the pregnancy. She was started on metoprolol 12.5 mg twice daily at 16 weeks EGA and continued at this dose throughout her pregnancy. Her blood pressure remained within normal limits throughout pregnancy with systolic pressures 90 to 120 mm Hg and diastolics of 50 to 80 mm Hg. A repeat echocardiogram was performed at 28 weeks EGA demonstrating an aortic root measurement of 41.8 mm at the sinus of Valsalva and 37.6 at the sinotubular junction. The remainder of her prenatal course was unremarkable. At 37 weeks 1 day EGA she underwent an uncomplicated vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery of a 3,140 g male infant with 1- and 5-minute APGAR scores of 8 and 9, respectively.

The patient was discharged to home 2 days after an uncomplicated postpartum hospital stay. On postpartum day 5 she presented to an outside hospital emergency department with back pain. A noncontrast CT was unremarkable and she was discharged to home with treatment for a urinary tract infection. On postpartum day 10, she represented to an outside emergency department with severe mid-to-upper back pain, worse with deep inspiration, and shortness of breath. Vital signs were all within normal limits. A CT angiogram revealed a Stanford Type B aortic dissection. She was transferred to our facility for higher level of care. On arrival she continued to be hemodynamically stable with systolic blood pressures ranging from 100 to 120 mm Hg. Vascular Surgery consultation was obtained and decision was made to continue with medical management at that time. Mean arterial pressure remained within goal without use of intravenous nicardipine. The patient was transferred to the surgical intensive care unit for continued observation and pain control with intravenous narcotics.

Approximately 12 hours after admission she developed excruciating back and chest pain radiating to her left arm and left side of her neck, which was no longer responsive to pain medications. At this time, she was afebrile with blood pressure ranging from 100 to 139 mm Hg systolic, heart rate 59 to 88 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute and oxygen saturation of 90% to 97%. An emergent CT angiography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis was performed which reconfirmed the type B dissection originating 1.5 cm from the left subclavian take off and extending to the proximal left common iliac artery ([Figs. 1a], [b] and [2]). Importantly, a new hyperdense foci in the distal aortic arch suggestive of active contrast extravasation was detected ([Figs. 3a], [b]). On concurrent echocardiogram the aortic root measured 41.6 mm at the sinus of Valsalva with flattening at the sinotubular junction (measuring 36.8 mm).

Fig. 1 CT angiography of chest—(a) sagittal and (b) coronal—demonstrating Stanford Type B aortic dissection originating in the distal aortic arch (arrows).

Fig. 2 CT angiography 3D reconstruction demonstrating dissection of distal aortic arch/proximal descending aorta (arrow) originating just distal to subclavian artery take-off.

Fig. 3 CT angiography—(a) axial and (b) coronal—images of region suspicious for contrast extravasation (arrows) along proximal descending aortic arch dissection.

The patient was taken emergently to the operating room. Intraoperatively, the type B dissection was noted to have expanded to the level of the subclavian orifice from a few hours prior on imaging and rupture of the dissection was confirmed. Two Bolton Relay thoracic stent grafts were used, the proximal one measuring 26 mm and 10 cm long, the distal one measuring 28 to 24 mm tapered measuring 20 cm long with 5 cm of overlap. The entire stented region started just distal to the takeoff of the left common carotid and extended to 2 cm above the takeoff of the celiac axis. The procedure was uncomplicated. The estimate blood loss was 100 mL and one unit of packed red blood cells was given.

Repeat CT angiography of the whole aorta on postoperative day 2 showed patent stent extending to the true lumen of supraceliac proximal abdominal aorta with exclusion of distal aortic arch—proximal descending aorta aneurysm without evidence of perigraft contrast extravasation. Postoperative course was uncomplicated and she was discharged home on postoperative day 10 with follow-up with vascular surgery. She was continued on metoprolol. At her 6-week postpartum visit she was asymptomatic and was strongly counseled to avoid future pregnancy. She elected to undergo laparoscopic bilateral tubal ligation which was performed several months later without complications.

Discussion

This case highlights the ongoing controversy over how pregnant patients with MFS and an aortic root between 40 mm and 45 mm should be managed. Our patient was managed in accordance with the most recent consensus guidelines, including those published by the European Society of Cardiology and the Canadian Cardiology Society, which agree that pregnancy is not recommended if the aortic root is >45 mm (or >40 mm in the presence of rapidly enlarged dilation or family history, neither of which our patient had).[17] [18] On the other hand, the 2010 American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend against pregnancy for MFS patients if the aortic root is >40 mm, or for prophylactic repair prior to conceiving.[12] Lack of consensus on aortic root diameter and risk of dissection is confounded by the fact that standardization of aortic root measurements is lacking. Some experts advocate for aortic root measurement at the sinus of Valsalva, claiming that this is the segment that dilates first and is most prone to dissection in MFS.[12] [21] However, dilation of the root at the level of the sinotubular junction, or extending to the ascending aorta, is known to portend a poor prognosis and so these measurements should also be considered.[22] In our case, the patient was felt to be lower risk because of stable measurements <45 mm at the sinus of Valsalva and <40 mm at the sinotubular junction.

In the primary literature on MFS in pregnancy, some authors describe measurements of the aortic root being taken at the sinus of Valsalva[11] [13] while others do not specify.[8] Consensus guidelines on management of thoracic aortic disease in MFS do not specify how or where the aortic root should be measured.[12] [17] Furthermore, studies that have reported echocardiographic measurements of aortic root at the Sinus of Valsalva for MFS in pregnancy also differ in convention of timing of measurement, with some taken during end-diastole[16] and others during mid-systole.[11] Whether to measure leading-edge to leading-edge, outer-edge to outer-edge, versus inner-edge to inner-edge differs between the pediatric and adult literature and varies depending on mode of imaging (CT vs. echo) and has changed over time.[16] [17] [21] These discrepancies are important as they may cause variations of up to 4 mm, which could significantly change counseling. In our case, echocardiographic measurements were obtained during diastole measuring the widest portion of the right coronary to left coronary sinus from leading-edge to leading-edge in the parasternal long-axis view in accordance with 2015 American Society of Echocardiography guidelines.[23] We advocate for multiple, standardized measurements along various segments of the aorta including at the sinus of Valsalva, the sinotubular junction, and the ascending aorta with consistency over time for better comparison and prognostication.

The lack of standardization and consensus regarding aortic root diameter and risk of dissection and other aortic complications underscores the importance of identifying all potential risk factors when counseling and managing pregnant women with MFS. For example, the rate of aortic root growth is an important consideration and has been shown to be a poor prognostic indicator.[22] While our patient did not exhibit growth at the sinus of Valsalva, she did exhibit some extension along the length of the root, consistent with effacement at the sinotubular junction (3.12 mm in the first trimester to 3.76 mm in the second trimester and postpartum). While these measurements remained <4 cm, it is known that extension of the aneurysmal dilation beyond the sinus is associated with worse outcomes.[22] Thus, providers should be careful to measure multiple portions of the root and to pay attention to changes other than just at the sinus of Valsalva.

In an attempt to standardize aortic measurements, some experts factor in body surface area, such as the Aortic Size Index (ASI). Davies et al first described this measurement of relative aortic size (aortic root diameter [mm]/body surface area [m²]) in predicting rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysms in nonpregnant adults.[24] The utility of ASI measurements was particularly evident in a retrospective review in a Japanese cohort which found a high rate of complications in pregnant women with aortic root <40 mm and it was hypothesized that this is secondary to small stature.[25] The authors concluded that an ASI score rather than an absolute diameter size is important in determining risk and that an ASI of >25 mm/m² was predictive of aortic complications in their population. Our patient's ASI in the first trimester was 21.5 mm/m². Further research is needed to validate this novel measurement tool in pregnant patients with MFS.

Our case highlights the fact that the postpartum period remains a high-risk period for women with MFS. In a literature review that identified 88 cases of aortic dissection complicating pregnancy in MFS patient, 26% of cases occurred postpartum.[10] Many of these cases occurred in women whose aortic root was <40 mm. Consistently, the literature suggests that the postpartum period is the second most frequent time for aortic complications to occur, after the third trimester.[10] [26] [27] ED physicians should be alerted to the fact that the postpartum period remains a significantly elevated risk time period for MFS patients. In a large database study of MFS patients followed longitudinally, 7 aortic dissections occurred out of 227 pregnancies, 6 of which happened postpartum.[28] Consideration for close follow-up postpartum with repeat imaging should be given, even in cases where the aortic root is not dilated.

Aneurysms and dissections can occur anywhere along the aorta in pregnant MFS patients, as evidence by our case. Predicting Type B (distal) aortic dissections poses a particular dilemma. According to one large international registry database study, 36% of dissections in nonpregnant MFS patients are Type B.[29] Based on less robust data, this number is cited to be ∼33% in the MFS in pregnancy literature.[10] [26] Because MFS is classically associated with Type A dissection, the focus has been on measuring the aortic root in predicting risk of complications; however, there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether or not aortic root dilation is also predictive of Type B dissection. In a literature review of 1,112 pregnancies in MFS patient from 2005 to 2015, Kim et al found no clear association between aortic diameter and type of dissection.[10] Minsart et al prospectively followed 21 pregnancies in women with MFS and reported two complications, both of which were Type B dissections in women with an aortic root <40 mm.[16] Providers should be alerted to the fact that a substantial minority of MFS pregnancy related complications will occur more distally along the aorta and, therefore, the entire aorta should be imaged prior to pregnancy or as early on as possible. Serial measurements of the descending and abdominal aorta are costly and there is no established cutoff at which a patient is at increased risk; however, this may be considered in patients who have aneurysmal dilation of distal portions of the aorta at baseline. Our patient did not exhibit descending arch aneurysm in her prepregnancy CT angiogram; however, the abdominal aorta was not imaged. Whole aorta screening imaging was not repeated given the lack of early dilation but perhaps would be warranted, at least early postpartum once radiation exposure no longer poses a risk to the fetus.

Reports of aortic rupture complicating a pregnancy in MFS are rare. In a recent literature review of all reported cases of MFS in pregnancy from 2005 to 2015 including 1,112 pregnancies, there were only five cases of aortic rupture/tamponade identified, 3 of which led to maternal deaths.[10] Typically, uncomplicated Type B dissections are managed medically, but pregnant MFS patients have different pathophysiology and risk factors that may require a different approach. The poor outcomes in medically managed Type B dissections in MFS patients has led some to argue for early endovascular repair.[30] The timely diagnosis and repair likely accounted for the good outcome in our patient's case.

Conclusion

We described a case of aortic rupture following a Type B aortic dissection in a postpartum patient with MFS with aortic root (at the sinus of Valsalva) <4.5 cm. The timely diagnosis and prompt intervention by a multidisciplinary team led to a favorable outcome. Patient and health care provider education, close surveillance and frequent monitoring, preferably of the whole aorta, may be warranted given that the Type B dissections may not be visualized by the routine transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of the aortic root. Early surgical repair of Type B aortic dissection in postpartum MFS patients should be considered. There is a need to standardize how and where the aorta is measured in patients with MFS to assess risk of complications during pregnancy.

Conflict of Interest/Disclosure Statement

There were no sources of funding or financial support for this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Deniz Urgun, MD, with the Department of Radiology at the University of California, Irvine, for her assistance in interpreting and selecting the radiographic images for this manuscript.

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