Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers for Aortic Dissection in the Emergency Department

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Presentation to the ED with first 24 hours of symptoms suggesting AD, including chest pain, upper back pain, syncope of unknown cause, symptoms of any acute perfusion deficit * Confirmed AD * the diagnosis of AD adjudicated by an independent expert panel at hospital discharge or death, whichever comes first * The expert panel will consist of (1) a specialist in Emergency Medicine and (2) a specialist in Cardiology and (3) a specialist in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<18 years old * Pregnancy * Surgery or stenting performed before recruitment