DISSECTING ANEURYSM OF THE AORTA AND HYPOTHYROIDISM

A case of dissecting aneurysm of the aorta (DA) and atrophic thyroidit is causing clinically documented hypothyroidism is described. Subseque ntly, 101 cases of DA and 100 matched controls were reviewed. Notable thyroid pathology with potential hypothyroidism was seen in 22% of cas es with DA. In the control group only 8% of the cases showed thyroid p athology. There appears to be overwhelming evidence for an association between dissecting aneurysm of the aorta and thyroid pathology. The l ink could be a disturbance of glycosaminoglycan metabolism, known to o ccur in both hypothyroidism and DA.