Aortic Aneurysm

[Charles]

I was diagnosed with an aneurysm of the ascending aorta 6 months ago measuring 4.9 cm. I started taking Cozaar 50 mg. twice a day, 3 months ago. The recent CT scan shows a reduction in the size of the aneurysm by 2-3 mm. I have hip, knee and chest pain on exertion but its worth it because I feel that the Cozaar helped me to avoid surgery.

[veronica]

I am 54 yo, female, without hypertension and was diagnosed with ascending aortic aneurysm measuring 3.6mm in diameter 2 years ago. Last june it was the same on CT. I was started on Cozaar 50mg once a day about a year ago. I am awaiting to see any change at my next CT june 2008.
Could you tell me how your condition has been doing since you posted your August 2006/ Thanks and best wishes.

[Merrill]

Veronica: This is important. You need to talk to your doctor about raising your Cozaar to 100 mg. as soon as possible I am currently being treated by Hopkins for the same condition. Hopkins' researchers are leading the treatment of Marfan, related connective tissue diseases and the possible benefits of Cozaar. I am on 100 mg. a day. I was told specifically that the dosage MUST be 100 mg. for it to have an impact on aortic aneurysms. Most doctors start at 50 mg. because that's what's needed to lower blood pressure. But you must go up to 100 mg. to have it impact the aorta (and hopefully other vascular problems). So please talk to your doctor about this. If necessary, he can call Dr. Hal Dietz or Dr. Jennifer Habashi (who works with Dietz). I wish you the very best.

veronica wrote:

I am 54 yo, female, without hypertension and was diagnosed with ascending aortic aneurysm measuring 3.6mm in diameter 2 years ago. Last june it was the same on CT. I was started on Cozaar 50mg once a day about a year ago. I am awaiting to see any change at my next CT june 2008.
Could you tell me how your condition has been doing since you posted your August 2006/ Thanks and best wishes.

[Merrill]

Oh--and Veronica. Talk to your doctor about your shifting to MRAs (Magnetic Resonance Angiograms) from the CT scans. They will save you all the radiation exposure that comes with the latter. This is very important! One CT scan is okay, but a number exposes you to too much cumulative radiation and raises your cancer risk. This is a big issue now. There have been a lot of studies done about the health risks of doctors ordering too many CT scans, when other tests can be substituted. MRA's with 3D reconstruction can see all the same things as the CT-scans and don't have the radiation.(Hopkins agrees that they are totally fine and they are world experts in this field.) MRA's are also painless. Just wear really, really good earplugs as they are quite noisy. Good luck.

veronica wrote:

I am 54 yo, female, without hypertension and was diagnosed with ascending aortic aneurysm measuring 3.6mm in diameter 2 years ago. Last june it was the same on CT. I was started on Cozaar 50mg once a day about a year ago. I am awaiting to see any change at my next CT june 2008.
Could you tell me how your condition has been doing since you posted your August 2006/ Thanks and best wishes.