2024
Somatic Variants Acquired Later in Life Associated with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: JAK2 V617F
Waldron C, Zafar M, Ma D, Zhang H, Dykas D, Ziganshin B, Popa A, Jha A, Kwan J, Elefteriades J. Somatic Variants Acquired Later in Life Associated with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: JAK2 V617F. Genes 2024, 15: 883. PMID: 39062663, PMCID: PMC11276600, DOI: 10.3390/genes15070883.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThoracic aortic aneurysmDevelopment of thoracic aortic aneurysmAortic aneurysmJAK2 V617FMyeloproliferative neoplasmsSomatic variantsPrevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysmsDescending thoracic aortic aneurysmJAK2 V617F burdenAortic valve diseaseTarget of therapyDriver of myeloproliferative neoplasmsSurgical aortic replacementVariant allele fractionAscending thoracic aortic aneurysmAortic replacementAneurysm sizeAneurysm patientsValve diseaseVariant carriersIncreased riskJAK2 geneExome sequencing databaseAllele fractionAneurysmPatient-specific ascending aortic intervention criteria
Kalogerakos P, Zafar M, Li Y, Ellauzi H, Mukherjee S, Ziganshin B, Rizzo J, Elefteriades J. Patient-specific ascending aortic intervention criteria. European Journal Of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2024, 65: ezae162. PMID: 38632077, DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezae162.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdverse aortic eventsRisk of adverse eventsAortic eventsAortic rootAneurysm patientsAscending aortaAdverse eventsIncreased risk of adverse eventsThoracic aortic aneurysm patientsAscending aortic aneurysmHigher risk of adverse eventsAortic aneurysm patientsAscending thoracic aortic aneurysm patientsBody surface areaGeneral populationPersonalized risk stratificationAortic diameterAneurysm locationRisk stratificationAortic aneurysmIncreased riskAscending diameterPatientsHigh riskZ-score
2023
Nonsize Criteria for Surgical Intervention on the Ascending Thoracic Aorta
Elefteriades J, Ziganshin B, Zafar M. Nonsize Criteria for Surgical Intervention on the Ascending Thoracic Aorta. Aorta 2023, 11: 071-086. PMID: 37172942, PMCID: PMC10232037, DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1766114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThoracic aortic aneurysmSurgical interventionAortic eventsAortic dissectionSubsternal chest painBlood pressure elevationBicuspid aortic valveAfferent neural pathwaysAscending thoracic aortaEmission Tomography ImagingPositron emission tomography (PET) imagingAortic stressAscending aneurysmAortic surgeryChest painEarly surgerySpecific genetic aberrationsHigh rupture riskMural thickeningRoot dilatationBicuspid valvePressure elevationAneurysm patientsAortic aneurysmAortic risk
2021
Risk reduction and pharmacological strategies to prevent progression of aortic aneurysms
Weininger G, Chan SM, Zafar M, Ziganshin BA, Elefteriades JA. Risk reduction and pharmacological strategies to prevent progression of aortic aneurysms. Expert Review Of Cardiovascular Therapy 2021, 19: 619-631. PMID: 34102944, DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2021.1940958.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAortic aneurysmAbdominal aortic aneurysmß-blockersAngiotensin II receptor blockersAngiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitorAnti-platelet medicationDifferent pharmacologic therapiesII receptor blockersAortic aneurysm patientsThoracic aortic aneurysmRisk reductionAortic aneurysm growthPharmacologic managementReceptor blockersPharmacologic therapyMedical therapySurgical interventionAneurysm patientsMiscellaneous drugsAneurysm diseasePharmacological strategiesSyndrome patientsMarfan syndromeEnzyme inhibitorsAneurysmsAccuracy of the “Thumb-Palm Test” for Detection of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm
Blumel R, Patel K, Rizzo JA, Mok S, Barrett A, Wu J, Zafar MA, Ziganshin BA, Elefteriades JA. Accuracy of the “Thumb-Palm Test” for Detection of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm. The American Journal Of Cardiology 2021, 150: 114-116. PMID: 34020772, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.03.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAscending aortic diameterAortic aneurysmTransesophageal echocardiographyPalm testAortic diameterIntra-operative transesophageal echocardiographyAscending Aortic AneurysmThoracic aortic aneurysmStandard physical examinationThousands of patientsVariety of disordersAscending aneurysmCardiac surgeryAneurysm patientsPhysical examinationPositive testPatientsNegative testAneurysmsHigher likelihoodNegative resultsAscAASubstantial likelihoodSignsEchocardiography
2019
Fate of preserved bicuspid valves at time of ascending aortic aneurysmectomy
Vinholo T, Zafar MA, Baldwin GE, Buntin J, Mansour A, Imran M, Papanikolaou D, Ziganshin BA, Elefteriades JA. Fate of preserved bicuspid valves at time of ascending aortic aneurysmectomy. Journal Of Cardiac Surgery 2019, 34: 318-322. PMID: 30900354, DOI: 10.1111/jocs.14024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBicuspid aortic valveAortic valveAortic stenosisConcomitant bicuspid aortic valveAortic aneurysm surgeryAortic valve replacementAortic aneurysm patientsIntraoperative transesophageal echocardiographyAortic aneurysmectomyPostoperative echocardiogramsPreoperative echocardiogramValve replacementSingle surgeonAneurysm surgeryBicuspid valveTransesophageal echocardiographyAneurysm patientsSignificant abnormalitiesStudy groupValve functionPatientsSurgeryEchocardiogramStenosisAverage time
2018
“Getting beyond diameter”: when to replace the aorta?
Tanweer M, Zafar M, Saeyeldin A, Gryaznov A, Puddifant A, Erben Y, Ziganshin B, Elefteriades J. “Getting beyond diameter”: when to replace the aorta? Journal Of Visualized Surgery 2018, 4: 124-124. DOI: 10.21037/jovs.2018.06.04.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAortic sizeThoracic aortic aneurysm patientsProgression of TAAAortic aneurysm patientsTimely surgical interventionBody surface areaProphylactic surgical repairSpecific genetic mutationsUse of biomarkersAdvanced imaging techniquesAortic surgeryAortic dissectionSurgical treatmentCatastrophic complicationSurgical repairPrognostic importancePrognostic significanceSurgical interventionAneurysm patientsTAA patientsPatient heightDisease progressionFamily historyFemale genderAnatomical aberrationsPrevention of Aortic Dissection Suggests a Diameter Shift to a Lower Aortic Size Threshold for Intervention
Mansour AM, Peterss S, Zafar MA, Rizzo JA, Fang H, Charilaou P, Ziganshin BA, Darr UM, Elefteriades JA. Prevention of Aortic Dissection Suggests a Diameter Shift to a Lower Aortic Size Threshold for Intervention. Cardiology 2018, 139: 139-146. PMID: 29346780, DOI: 10.1159/000481930.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRisk of dissectionAortic sizeAortic dissectionAortic diameter increaseGuideline-recommended thresholdNatural history analysisEffect of dissectionConsecutive patientsMultivariable analysisAneurysm patientsMultivariate regression modelControl groupImaging studiesAortaDissectionMultiple studiesAverage timePatientsRiskRegression modelsProportional estimatesStudyPrevention
2012
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Provides Evidence that Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Protects against Systemic Atherosclerosis
Hung A, Zafar M, Mukherjee S, Tranquilli M, Scoutt LM, Elefteriades JA. Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Provides Evidence that Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Protects against Systemic Atherosclerosis. Cardiology 2012, 123: 71-77. PMID: 23006774, DOI: 10.1159/000341234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntima-media thicknessCarotid intima-media thicknessAortic aneurysmCalcium scoreAortic calcium scoreAverage intima-media thicknessAortic aneurysm patientsCarotid IMT valuesDegree of atherosclerosisPositive family historyAortic aneurysm developmentDevelopment of atherosclerosisCommon carotid arterySystemic atherosclerosisAneurysm patientsIMT valuesMale genderRisk factorsCarotid arteryFamily historyMultiple linear regression analysisAtherosclerosisEarly markerAneurysm developmentAneurysms