Relationship between the aortic root Z-score and degree of translamellar mucoid extracellular matrix accumulation

Purposes A retrospective analysis was performed to compare the pathological findings and aortic root Z -score in patients with and without connective tissue disease (CTD). Methods Twenty-two patients {47.5 [15–85] years old, 18 males} underwent surgery for aortic root dilatation without aortic dissection: 10 {40 [16–59] years old} with CTD and 12 {57.5 [15–85] years old} without CTD (non-CTD; p = 0.049). Systemic hypertension ( p = 0.043) and the degree of preoperative aortic regurgitation ( p = 0.017) were higher in the non-CTD patients than in the CTD patients. Results The diameters of the sinotubular junction (STJ) ( p = 0.048) and ascending aorta (Asc.Ao.) ( p = 0.020) and the Z -scores of the STJ ( p = 0.027) and Asc.Ao. ( p = 0.009) were significantly higher in the non-CTD patients than in the CTD patients. The degree of translamellar mucoid extracellular matrix accumulation (T-MEMA) of the Asc.Ao. was significantly higher in the non-CTD patients than in the CTD patients ( p = 0.037) and was significantly correlated with the Z -scores of the aorta ( R = 0.746, p