ObjectiveTo observe systemic inflammatory response (SIR)of patients in different stages after the onset of aortic dissection (AD), and preliminarily explore a new staging system of AD based on SIR. MethodsFrom September 2011 to February 2012, 46 AD patients were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University. There were 33 male and 13 female patients with their age ranging from 22 to 77 years (53.2±13.6 years). Blood samples were collected in 9 different periods after the onset of AD (0-12 hours (T1), 12-24 hours (T2), 24-48 hours (T3, 1-2 days), 48-96 hours (T4, 2-4 days), 96-168 hours (T5, 4-7 days), 168-336 hours (T6, 7-14 days), 336-720 hours (T7, 14-30 days), 720-1440 hours (T8, 30-60 days) and > 1 440 hours (T9, > days))to measure blood concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), endotoxin (ET), white blood cell (WBC)and neutrophils (Neut). SIR changes after the onset of AD were summarized. ResultsBlood concentrations of different inflammatory mediators were all significantly elevated within 14 days (T1-T6), significantly decreased in 14-60 days (T7-T8), and returned to normal range 60 days (T9)after the onset of AD. Peak levels of ET and TNF-α appeared in T1 with 263.42±29.98 pg/ml and 86.75±18.83 pg/ml respectively. Peak level of IL-6 appeared in T2 with 95.70±22.64 pg/ml. Peak level of CRP appeared in T5 with 123.74±54.78 mg/L. There was no obvious peak level of WBC or Neut. ConclusionDisease progression of AD can be divided into 3 stages including acute stage (within 14 days), subacute stage (14-60 days)and chronic stage ( > 60 days)based on the degree of SIR.