As one of the life-threatening diseases in cardiovascular system, aortic dissection (AD) is an extremely dangerous condition with a complex pathogenesis. In recent years, the role of inflammatory reactions in the development of aortic dissection has increasingly attracted great attention, and many findings have shown that inflammatory reactions contribute greatly to the pathophysiology and outcomes of AD. In this article, the authors address the possible mechanisms for inflammatory reactions participating in the occurrence and development of AD, the relationship between markers of inflammation and diagnosis of AD, and the influence of inflammatory reactions on prognosis of different types of AD, as well as the current problems and future prospects.