Dissecting aneurysm of the aorta and hypothyroidism.

: A case of dissecting aneurysm of the aorta (DA) and atrophic thyroiditis causing clinically documented hypothyroidism is described. Subsequently, 101 cases of DA and 100 matched controls were reviewed. Notable thyroid pathology with potential hypothyroidism was seen in 22% of cases with DA. In the control group only 8% of the cases showed thyroid pathology. There appears to be overwhelming evidence for an association between dissecting aneurysm of the aorta and thyroid pathology. The link could be a disturbance of glycosaminoglycan metabolism, known to occur in both hypothyroidism and DA.