Investigation of the Neurovegetative Pattern in Patients With Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (TAA)

Changes in blood pressure (BP) are tightly controlled by a neural surveillance system that triggers changes in response to heart rate, vascular tone, and respiration.

Therefore, studies in literature have investigated the regulatory effects of the sympathetic system on the tone of the vessels as well as on the BP, but further analysis are needed in order to describe its potential impact on the structure of the aortic wall and, in particular, its potential implications on aneurysms and risk of aortic dissections.

Considering that, in the population with TAA, the neurovegetative pattern influences the responses to different stressors (environmental, occupational and emotional) and also acts on the BP, which represents a risk factor for the TAA population, its analysis would allow to identify attitudes and behavioral predispositions and therefore response to stressors.

The non-invasive analysis of sympatho-adrenergic patterns could help to highlight a functional condition related to the "environmental stressors" which could help to stratify patients with TAA based on the level of pathological reactivity with effects on risk of aortic complications.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18-65 years with syndromic and nonsyndromic TAA;
• Signed informed consent;
• Patients on regular pharmacological prophylaxis (with Losartan) or naïve patients with a first diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

• Acute and chronic inflammatory diseases such as: liver disease, chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl) and diseases affecting the thyroid system.