Correlation of hemostatic molecular markers and morphology of the residual false lumen in chronic aortic dissection.

We evaluated our hypothesis that morphological change of the aortic dissection can be predicted by serial measurements of hemostatic molecular markers. Between February 1999 and February 2003, 50 patients with chronic aortic dissection of the descending thoracic aorta were studied at random intervals of 1 to 59 months (mean, 15.4+/-14.3) after onset. Morphologies of the false lumen of the aortic dissection determined by computed tomographic (CT) images were divided into four groups. Twenty-two images had aortic dissection associated with intramural hematoma or a completely thrombosed false lumen without ulcer-like projections (group 1), 14 had a thrombosed false lumen with ulcer-like projections (group 2), 18 had patent, but a partially thrombosed false lumen (group 3), and 15 had a completely patent false lumen (group 4). Blood samples for detection of hemostatic molecular markers were collected on the same day or within 1 month of the CT scan being performed. Thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and D-dimer proved to be significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1. There was no significant correlation between the external diameter and hemostatic molecular markers except for prothrombin fragments 1+2 (PTF1+2). Simultaneous determinations of these hemostatic markers and multiple CT scans were performed more than twice in 19 of the patients. These cases were divided into three groups according to the morphological changes of the false lumen in the interval; morphologically progressive, regressive and no change cases. Five cases showed reduction or disappearance of the false lumen (the regressive cases). Only one case showed that the false lumen progressively enlarged and was partially patent thereafter (the progressive case). Mean plasma levels of TAT and D-dimer were changed correlated with the morphological progressive or regressive changes. The morphology of aortic dissection was correlated with hemostatic molecular markers such as TAT or D-dimer. We concluded that the serial measurement of D-dimer and TAT is useful for predicting morphological changes in chronic aortic dissection, and it can be an alternative way to follow up for patients of aortic dissection.