Strong Heart and Vascular Center
Division of Vascular Surgery
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Aortic Arch Conditions
What are Aortic Arch Conditions?
Structural abnormalities in the
arteries that branch off the top of the aorta are called aortic arch conditions.
These abnormalities can reduce blood flow to vital organs and
result in
inflammation and blockage of
the vessels,
leading to decreased blood flow to areas
of the body.
The name "aortic arch syndrome" usually
refers to Takayasu’s arteritis, a rare
autoimmune disorder that mainly affects
Asian women. Takayasu’s arteritis also causes inflammation of the aortic
arch, eventually blocking arteries possibly causing organ damage
and symptoms of heart attack and
stroke.
Since the cause of aortic arch syndrome is unknown, it is
difficult to predict who will develop the condition.
In the first phase, the arteries are inflamed,
and about half
of all patients develop:
In the later phase, the arteries become narrowed and
symptoms may include:
Other symptoms that can
occur in the later phase are serious conditions
themselves, including:
Diagnosing Aortic Arch Conditions
Early diagnosis of aortic arch syndrome is difficult because
symptoms usually emerge only once an artery has already narrowed.
To rule out other diseases, a physician will review a patient’s
complete medical history and then perform a thorough physical
exam. The physician will measure blood pressure
and will listen through a stethoscope for abnormal sounds made
by blood rushing through the blood vessel.
Other tests that a physician may order include:
Medication and lifestyle modifications are typically the first
line of treatment for aortic arch syndrome. These modifications
include:
If the aortic arch syndrome is in an advanced stage, surgery
may be recommended. Options include:
