Table 1. Variables that affect the structure of the ascending aortic media.

Variables

Systemic hypertension

Aging

Pregnancy

Chromosome abnormality: Marfan syndrome, Turner syndrome and Noonan syndrome

Gene abnormality: fibrillin-1 defect (15q21.1)

Deletion of the TGF-β1 receptor and ALK5 signaling in neural crest cells

Metalloproteinase and elastin

Hemodynamic abnormality (increased aortic blood flow); complex CHD with PS/PA)

Intrinsic abnormality of the aortic wall in congenital heart diseases

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion

TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; PS, pulmonary stenosis; PA, pulmonary atresia.