Relatives of patients suffering from aortic diseases have an underlying genetic condition to develop the aortic disease themselves. Hence regular screening and genetic testing of the patient's relatives can help save many lives, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. TAD, including aneurysms and dissections, are often silent entities until they become life-threatening emergencies, at which point they have a high chance of mortality approaching 80%.
‘More than 30 percent of relatives of thoracic aortic diseases (TAD) patients could have an underlying genetic predisposition and may develop a life-threatening condition. Regular checkup of these people can decrease the mortality rate.’
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The study, which is part-funded by the British Heart Foundation, highlights the importance of routine imaging and genetic testing of relatives of patients affected by TAD to identify the diseases early.
The research also suggests that current guidelines for the condition are likely to result in the under-treatment of patients who are potentially at-risk, mainly as screening is not routinely performed in the UK.Dr. Giovanni Mariscalco, Associate Professor from the University of Leicester and Honorary Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Leicester's Hospitals, who led the study, said: "Our research identifies important knowledge gaps with respect to the predictive accuracy of commonly used screening tests across patients with thoracic aortic diseases.
"The evidence suggests that screening of first - and second-degree relatives of patients affected by familial non-syndromic thoracic aortic diseases, and first-degree relatives of those affected by sporadic TAD will result in a significant number of patients being diagnosed who would otherwise remain unaware they suffer from the disease, which could potentially save lives."
Welcoming the publication of this research, Gareth Owens, Chair of Aortic Dissection Awareness (UK & Ireland) said: "Traditionally, Aortic Dissection has been regarded by the medical profession as a 'silent killer,' striking mainly the over-65s, with little opportunity for prediction or prevention. Sadly, we know of many patients in the UK and Ireland who died suddenly due to a lack of appropriate screening. Patients who survive Aortic Dissection say their #1 worry is that close relatives may also be affected by the condition.
"This research shows that there is a significant cohort of up to 30% of patients, including many younger patients, in whom a genetic predisposition to Aortic Dissection can and should be detected through appropriate screening. Prevention is always better than cure. Dr. Mariscalco and his team are to be congratulated on highlighting this issue. We expect that changes to national screening programmes as a result of this research will save lives, by improving the prevention, detection, and treatment of Aortic Dissection."
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Source-Eurekalert