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It can lead to serious, potentially life threatening complications, such as heart attack, rupture of the affected artery, and even sudden death. CAA often does not cause any symptoms until complications develop. As such, it is important that people are aware of the causes of and the risk factors for the condition. This article describes what CAA is, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, possible complications, and outlook. What is CAA Share on Pinterestszjphoto/Getty ImagesCoronary arteries are major arteries that deliver oxygenated blood to the heart. There are two main coronary arteries: the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery. The left coronary artery branches into two further arteries: the left anterior descending artery and the circumflex artery. Together, the coronary arteries supply blood to the entire heart muscle. Each of the coronary arteries consists of different sections, or segments. CAA is a rare condition in which a segment of a coronary artery enlarges, or dilates, more than 1.5 times the diameter of adjacent segments. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), an aneurysm occurs when a portion of an artery wall weakens, allowing that part to bulge or balloon outward. The ballooned section is at risk of rupturing and may put pressure on nearby structures. Does CAA cause symptoms CAA can cause symptoms such as:chest pain that comes and goeschest pain upon exertionshortness of breathheart murmurs Some people with CAA also experience low blood pressure, or hypotension. This can cause:nauseadizzinesslightheadednessfaintingweaknessclammy, cold, pale skindehydration and increased thirstblurred visionrapid, shallow breathingunexplained fatiguedepressionlack of concentration What causes CAA Researchers are still unsure as to the exact cause of CAA. However, it likely develops similarly to other types of aneurysms that impact large blood vessels. This process involves the following:damage to and thinning of the inner wall of the arteryincreased pressure or stress on weakened artery wallsincreasing dilation of the affected section of the artery Below, we discuss some conditions that can cause CAA. Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the inner walls of the arteries become lined with a substance experts call arterial plaque. This substance consists of fat, cholesterol, calcium, waste products, and a clotting material called fibrin. In atherosclerosis, arterial plaque causes the arteries to narrow and harden, impeding their ability to carry oxygenated blood. Atherosclerosis accounts for more than 90% of cases of CAA. Symptoms Most people with atherosclerosis do not experience any symptoms until an artery becomes completely blocked. At this stage, the most common symptoms of atherosclerosis include:chest paindifficulty breathingpain in a limb, which may indicate a blocked artery in that areamuscle weaknessfatigueconfusion, due to impaired blood flow to the brain Kawasaki disease Kawasaki disease (KD) is a condition of unknown cause that presents with fever primarily in children under the age of 5 years. Children with KD may develop acquired heart disease, which refers to types of heart disease that occur after birth. KD is the leading cause of CAA in children. Symptoms KD may cause the following symptoms:unexplained feverrashredness and irritation of the whites of the eyesinflammation and irritation of the lips, mouth, and throatswollen glands in the neckswelling of the hands and feet Takayasu arteritis Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a condition that causes inflammation of the aorta, which is the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The condition can restrict blood flow, resulting in damage to the body’s vital organs and tissues. Symptoms TA may cause the following symptoms:mild fevermalaiseunexplained fatigueaches and painsweaknessheadacheslightheadednesshigh blood pressureloss of appetiteshortness of breathchest pain Percutaneous coronary intervention Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a nonsurgical procedure that involves inserting a stent into a blood vessel that has become narrowed by atherosclerosis. A stent is a small device that helps dilate a blood vessel, thus easing blood flow. Symptoms People who undergo PCI may experience symptoms health experts associate with atherosclerosis, such as:chest paindifficulty breathingmuscle weaknessfatigue Congenital heart defects Congenital heart defects are conditions in which the heart or the blood vessels surrounding the heart do not develop properly before birth. Congenital CAA accounts for around 20–30% of CAA cases. Symptoms Symptoms of congenital heart conditions vary depending on the type of the condition a person has. Some congenital heart conditions are very mild and do not cause any symptoms or health complications. Others can be severe and may require treatment with medication or surgery. Connective tissue disorders Some genetic disorders that impact the connective tissues can cause CAA. Examples include Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). Symptoms Symptoms of Marfan syndrome include:slim body and taller than average heightlong limbsexcessive curvature of the spinecrooked teetheye conditionscollapsed lungs Symptoms of EDS include:extreme joint flexibilityjoint instabilityfrequent dislocationsjoint deformitiesscoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spineskin that can stretch more than usualunusual scarring Other causes Some other conditions that may weaken or damage arteries and contribute to the development of CAA include:infectionsnoninflammatory and non-atherosclerotic vascular diseasefibromuscular dysplasia, a rare blood vessel condition in which the body replaces flexible cells within the arteries with cells that are more fibrousdrug use, including the use of cocaine, amphetamine, or protease inhibitors Diagnosis To diagnose CAA, a doctor will ask a person about their symptoms and their personal and family medical history. Also, the doctor may use several imaging tools, including:CT scansMRI scansechocardiography However, the most common method for confirming a CAA diagnosis is coronary angiography with intravascular ultrasound. Coronary angiography is a special type of invasive test that uses X-ray technology and a contrast dye to help determine the shape, location, and size of aneurysms. It can also help establish the degree of atherosclerosis in the arteries. Intravascular ultrasound is an ultrasound of the arteries. It provides information about the structure of artery walls and the inner composition of the arteries. The procedure can help detect the type of aneurysm a person has. Treatment There is no consensus on the best treatment or management options for CAA. The optimal approach depends on several factors, including:a person’s signs and symptomsthe cause of the aneurysmthe aneurysm’s size, location, and progressionthe presence of coexisting atherosclerosis Below are some potential treatment and management options for CAA. Medical treatment Medications and therapies are available to help treat CAA, manage contributing factors, and prevent the progression of the condition. Examples include:statins, to lower blood cholesterol levelsangiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, to manage blood pressureanticoagulant medication, antiplatelet medication, or both, to treat or prevent blood clots PCI PCI involves inserting a stent or small coil in the affected blood vessel to keep the blood flowing. The procedure can help prevent complications resulting from impaired blood flow. Surgery A doctor may recommend surgery in cases of CAA that are not treatable using more conservative methods, such as medication and PCI. Surgery may involve procedures to:repair the weakened section of the arteryremove, or resect, the aneurysmtie off, or ligate, a part of the artery to reduce blood flow to the aneurysmremove blood clotsbypass the aneurysm Complications People with CAA may experience several complications, some of which can be life threatening. Examples include:low blood pressurerupture of the arterycompression of surrounding structures, such as blood vesselsa blood clot or an embolismcoronary artery spasmheart arrhythmiasheart attacksudden death Outlook The outlook for a person living with CAA depends mostly on the size of the aneurysm. In many cases, small aneurysms have a low risk of severe complications. By contrast, large aneurysms have a high risk of causing severe complications and death. Around 50% of large aneurysms that health experts associate with CAA result in obstruction of the artery, which may cause:heart arrhythmiasheart attacksudden death It is important to contact a doctor for a medical evaluation if a person is experiencing symptoms of CAA. They should also get regular checkups if they have a personal or family history of conditions that may increase their risk of CAA. Appropriate treatment and management of CAA will help prevent possible complications of the condition. Summary CAA is a rare condition in which a section of the coronary artery significantly dilates and thins out. This can lead to severe, potentially life threatening complications, such as heart arrhythmia, heart attack, and rupture of the affected artery. A person with CAA may be unaware that they have the condition, as symptoms typically do not appear until an artery becomes entirely blocked. It is therefore important that people receive regular checkups if they have a personal history of conditions that can increase their risk of CAA, such as atherosclerosis, congenital heart defects, or connective tissue disorders. The outlook for CAA is typically more favorable for smaller aneurysms, with health experts generally associating larger aneurysms with a greater risk of complications. However, timely treatments in the form of medications, a PCI, or a surgery can help manage the condition and prevent complications from occurring. Last medically reviewed on May 30, 2022StrokeVascularCardiovascular / Cardiology 16 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.About Kawasaki disease. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/kawasaki/about.htmlAtherosclerosis. (2019).https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/atherosclerosisAtherosclerosis. (2020).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol/atherosclerosisCongenital heart defects. (n.d.).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/congenital-heart-defectsKawsara, A., et al. (2018). Management of coronary artery aneurysms.https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2018.02.041Low blood pressure - when blood pressure is too low. (2016).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/low-blood-pressure-when-blood-pressure-is-too-lowMarfan syndrome. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/marfan_syndrome.htmMatta, A. G., et al. (2021). Coronary artery aneurysm: A review.https://www.wjgnet.com/1949-8462/full/v13/i9/446.htmOgobuiro, I., et al. (2021). Anatomy, thorax, heart coronary arteries.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534790/Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI or angioplasty with stent). (n.d.).https://www.heartandstroke.ca/heart-disease/treatments/surgery-and-other-procedures/percutaneous-coronary-interventionSheikh, A. S., et al. (2019). Coronary artery aneurysm: Evaluation, prognosis, and proposed treatment strategies.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6791093/Sherif, S. A., et al. (2017). Coronary artery aneurysms: A review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2017.00024/fullTakayasu arteritis. (n.d.).https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/education/forms/takayasus-arteritis/What is a coronary angiogram? (2015).https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/answers-by-heart/what-is-a-coronary-angiogram.pdfWhat is an aneurysm? (2021).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/aortic-aneurysm/what-is-an-aneurysmWhat is atherosclerosis? (2022).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/atherosclerosisFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M.D., FACC — By Jennifer Huizen on May 30, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageStroke and aneurysm: What is the difference?Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, MD Strokes and aneurysms are alike in that they both affect the brain and they have similar effects on the body. 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