Fig. 5From: Surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection in a patient with SLE and prior antiphospholipid syndrome on therapy for over 30 years: a case reporta) Pathological examination of the ascending aorta showed medial degeneration with atherosclerosis, fragmentation of media elastica, and aortic dissection. Black arrows indicate the dissection of the media in aortic wall. (b) Red arrows indicate fragmentation of elastin in one microscopic field (magnification 100×). Many areas of smooth muscle cell orientation are preservedBack to article page