aorta is pulsating

[trumpets16]

I had an echo done yesterday and I found out that with every beat my aorta is swelling and then shrinking back down to normal. I have joint looseness and they told me that the lack of collagen is affecting my heart which is causing this and probably will cause a dissection. What would you call this and what about treatments? Does anyone know?

[bzmed]

There are some hereditary connective tissue disorders such as Marfan's or Ehlers-Danlos.  You can find info about them at their national organizations which are very easy to find (they don't like us to post links I think).

[trumpets16]

Yea, I have ehlers danlos. I am just trying to figure out what this is called.

[bzmed]

I dont't know if they have a name for it.  Maybe they would call it some type of aneurysm even though it swells and shrinks.  Please keep us posted if you find something more specific.

It is good that they could tell that from an echo.

Best of luck!

[sociostudent]

It's called an aortic dissection.