Aortitis overview

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]

Overview

Aortitis is the inflammation of the aortic wall. The disorder is potentially life-threatening and rare. It is reported that there are only 1-3 new cases of aortitis per year per million people in the United States and Europe^[1]. Aortitis is found in a wide range of ages spanning from 10 to 40 years of age.

Classification

Aortitis may be classified according to the cause into 2 groups: inflammatory and infectious^[2]^[3].

Pathophysiology

Aortitis is inflammation or infection of the aortic wall.^[3] On microscopic histopathological analysis, extensive intimal and adventitial fibrosis and scarring with resultant luminal narrowing are characteristic findings of aortitis due to Takayasu arteritis. Extensive medial inflammation and necrosis are characteristic findings on microscopic histopathological analysis of aortitis due to giant cell arteritis.^[3] The majority of cases of infectious aortitis are due to bacteria seeding through a segment of the aortic wall with existing pathology via the vasa vasorum.

Causes

Life threatening causes of aortitis include bacteremia and mycotic aneurysm. Common causes of aortitis include ankylosing spondylitis, giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, and syphilis.

History and Symptoms

Treatment

Management appears to include the following treatment priorities; stop the inflammation, treat complications, prevent and monitor for re-occurrence.

Prognosis

References

↑
↑ Bronze MS, Shirwany A, Corbett C, Schaberg DR (1999). "Infectious aortitis: an uncommon manifestation of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae". The American Journal of Medicine. 107 (6): 627–30. PMID 10651596. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Gornik HL, Creager MA (2008). "Aortitis". Circulation. 117 (23): 3039–51. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.760686. PMC 2759760. PMID 18541754. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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[eMedicineMed158-1] ↑

[pmid10651596-2] Bronze MS, Shirwany A, Corbett C, Schaberg DR (1999). "Infectious aortitis: an uncommon manifestation of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae". The American Journal of Medicine. 107 (6): 627–30. PMID 10651596. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[pmid18541754-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Gornik HL, Creager MA (2008). "Aortitis". Circulation. 117 (23): 3039–51. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.760686. PMC 2759760. PMID 18541754. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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