Giant vein graft aneurysm complicated by Loeys-Dietz syndrome

Abstract

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a recently reported autosomal dominant aortic aneurysm syndrome with widespread systemic involvement. Although connective tissue diseases carry a theoretical risk of aneurysmal degeneration in vein grafts, there are no reports of vein graft aneurysm (VGA) in patients with connective tissue disease. We herein report the first case of a giant VGA that was manifested 5 years after the reconstruction of a popliteal artery aneurysm associated with LDS. A pathologic examination of the VGA revealed high proteoglycan deposition and medial degeneration of the diffuse type in the VGA; these findings conformed to LDS.