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European Journal of Case Reports in... 2021Aortitis is seen in a wide variety of diseases. It was rarely found in the past but this is changing because of new imaging techniques.
INTRODUCTION
Aortitis is seen in a wide variety of diseases. It was rarely found in the past but this is changing because of new imaging techniques.
CASE DESCRIPTION
We present the case of a 45-year-old man who was found on thyroid ultrasound to have infrarenal aortitis and pathological lymphadenopathies in different locations. After an exhaustive diagnostic process, tuberculous aortitis, an infrequent manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, was diagnosed. The condition resolved after a 6-month course of antibiotics and a 6-week course of corticosteroids.
CONCLUSION
Tuberculous aortitis is an atypical manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The absence of typical symptoms and the difficulty of isolating the microorganism makes its diagnosis difficult. Therefore, clinical suspicion, microbiological tests and imaging are key for reaching the diagnosis and starting treatment for a serious disease that can cause aortic aneurysm and dissection.
LEARNING POINTS
New imaging techniques can identify aortitis for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary infection.The extrapulmonary manifestations of infection are diverse and include aortitis.Prompt and accurate differentiation between infectious and non-infectious causes of aortitis determines which of two very different therapeutic paths should be followed and hence the prognosis of the patient.
PubMed: 34377690
DOI: 10.12890/2021_002598 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Jun 2016The aim of the study was to compare clinical/imaging findings and outcome in patients with idiopathic (isolated aortitis, IA) and with giant cell arteritis (GCA)-related... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to compare clinical/imaging findings and outcome in patients with idiopathic (isolated aortitis, IA) and with giant cell arteritis (GCA)-related aortitis.
METHODS
Patients from 11 French internal medicine departments were retrospectively included. Aortitis was defined by aortic wall thickening >2mm and/or an aortic aneurysm on CT-scan, associated to inflammatory syndrome. Patients with GCA had at least 3 ACR criteria. Aortic events (aneurysm, dissection, aortic surgeries) were reported, and free of aortic events-survival were compared.
RESULTS
Among 191 patients with non-infectious aortitis, 73 with GCA and 44 with IA were included. Patients with IA were younger (65 vs 70 years, p=0.003) and comprised more past/current smokers (43 vs 15%, p=0.0007). Aortic aneurisms were more frequent (38% vs 20%, p=0.03), and aortic wall thickening was more pronounced in IA. During follow-up (median=34 months), subsequent development of aortic aneurysm was significantly lower in GCA when compared to IA (p=0.009). GCA patients required significantly less aortic surgery during follow-up than IA patients (p=0.02). Mean age, sex ratio, inflammatory parameters, and free of aortic aneurism survival were equivalent in patients with IA ≥ 60 years when compared to patients with GCA-related aortitis.
CONCLUSIONS
IA is more severe than aortitis related to GCA, with higher proportions of aortic aneurism at diagnosis and during follow-up. IA is a heterogeneous disease and its prognosis is worse in younger patients <60 years. Most patients with IA ≥ 60 years share many features with GCA-related aortitis.
Topics: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm; Aortitis; France; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 26903476
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2016.02.016 -
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2024
Topics: Humans; Aortitis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 38324817
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0595-2023 -
Circulation Jun 2008
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Journal of the American College of... Aug 2022Inflammatory aortitis is most often caused by large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including giant cell arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, immunoglobulin G4-related aortitis,... (Review)
Review
Inflammatory aortitis is most often caused by large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including giant cell arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, immunoglobulin G4-related aortitis, and isolated aortitis. There are distinct differences in the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and natural history of LVV that are important for the cardiovascular provider to know. If possible, histopathologic specimens should be obtained to aide in accurate diagnosis and management of LVV. In most cases, corticosteroids are utilized in the acute phase, with the addition of steroid-sparing agents to achieve disease remission while sparing corticosteroid toxic effects. Endovascular and surgical procedures have been described with success but should be delayed until disease control is achieved whenever possible. Long-term management should include regular follow-up with rheumatology and surveillance imaging for sequelae of LVV.
Topics: Aorta; Aortitis; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Takayasu Arteritis
PubMed: 35981827
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.05.046 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery May 2018The objective of this study was to describe large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It is a retrospective... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It is a retrospective single-center study conducted between 2000 and 2015 through a university hospital of 11 HIV-infected patients with LVV.
METHODS
The characteristics and outcome of 11 HIV-infected patients with LVV (7 patients fulfilled international criteria for Takayasu arteritis, 5 patients had histologic findings of vasculitis, and 5 patients had imaging features of aortitis) were analyzed and compared with those of 82 patients with LVV but without HIV infection.
RESULTS
Concerning the HIV-infected patients with LVV (n = 11), the mean age was 40 years (range, 36-56 years), and 55% of patients were female. At diagnosis of LLV, the mean initial CD4 cell count was 455 cells/mm (range, 166-837 cells/mm), and the median HIV viral load was 9241 copies. Vascular lesions were located in the aorta (n = 7), in supra-aortic trunks (n = 7), and in digestive arteries (n = 3). Inflammatory aorta infiltrates showed a strong expression of interferon-γ and interleukin 6. In HIV-negative LVV patients (n = 82), the median age was 42 years, and 88% of the patients were women. Thirty patients had an inflammatory syndrome. Seventy patients had been treated with glucocorticosteroids and 57 with immunosuppressive treatments. Compared with their negative counterparts, HIV-positive patients with LVV were more frequently male (P = .014), had more vascular complications (ie, Ishikawa score; P = .017), and had more frequent revascularization (P = .047). After a mean follow-up of 96 months, four relapses of vasculitis were reported, and one patient died. Regardless of the HIV virologic response, antiretroviral therapy improved LVV in only one case.
CONCLUSIONS
LVV in HIV-infected patients is a rare and severe entity.
Topics: Adult; Antiviral Agents; Aortitis; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; Glucocorticoids; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Middle Aged; Paris; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Takayasu Arteritis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load; Young Adult
PubMed: 29242069
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2017.08.099 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Jul 2023Aortitis is an important form of vasculitis with significant risk of complications. Very few studies have provided detailed clinical phenotyping across the whole disease... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Aortitis is an important form of vasculitis with significant risk of complications. Very few studies have provided detailed clinical phenotyping across the whole disease spectrum. Our primary aim was to look the clinical features, management strategies and complications associated with non-infectious aortitis.
METHODS
A retrospective review was performed on patients with diagnosis of noninfectious aortitis at the Oxford University hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Clinicopathologic features were recorded including demographics, presentation, aetiology, laboratory, imaging findings, histopathology, complications, treatment, and outcome.
RESULTS
We report the data on 120 patients (59% females). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome constituted the most common presentation (47.5%). 10.8% were diagnosed following a vascular complication (dissection or aneurysm). All patients (n = 120) had raised inflammatory markers (median ESR 70.0 mm/h and CRP 68.0 mg/L). Isolated aortitis subgroup (15%) had significantly higher likelihood of presenting with vascular complications and challenging to diagnose due to non-specific symptoms. Prednisolone (91.5%) and methotrexate (89.8%) were the most used treatment. 48.3% developed vascular complications during the disease course including ischaemic complications (25%), aortic dilatation and aneurysms (29.2%) and dissection (4.2%). Risk of dissection was higher in the isolated aortitis subgroup at 16.6% compared to all other types of aortitis at 1.96%.
CONCLUSION
Risk of vascular complications is high in non-infectious aortitis patients during disease course, hence early diagnosis and appropriate management is key. DMARDs such as Methotrexate appear to be effective, nonetheless there remain gaps in evidence for longer-term management of relapsing disease. Dissection risk seems much higher for patients with isolated aortitis.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Aortitis; Methotrexate; Retrospective Studies; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37142195
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103354 -
Radiologia 2013Aortitis is a pathological term designating inflammation of the aortic wall, regardless of its cause. The clinical presentation of aortitis is nonspecific and variable.... (Review)
Review
Aortitis is a pathological term designating inflammation of the aortic wall, regardless of its cause. The clinical presentation of aortitis is nonspecific and variable. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss; acute phase reactants may also be elevated. Aortitis can be caused by a wide spectrum of entities, including from infectious processes to autoimmune diseases (Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis are among the most common of these causing aortitis), and the prognosis and treatment of these entities vary widely. Various imaging techniques can be used to evaluate the lumen and wall of the aorta (such as multidetector computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography, or PET-CT). This review focuses on the most common diseases that cause aortitis and on the clinical and radiological findings that are most useful for diagnosing and treating this condition appropriately.
Topics: Aortitis; Diagnostic Imaging; Humans; Radiography
PubMed: 23891316
DOI: 10.1016/j.rx.2013.05.003 -
The Journal of Thoracic and... Feb 2015Inflammatory diseases of the aorta comprise a spectrum of disease with diverse clinical and histopathologic presentations. Broadly, they may be dichotomized into... (Review)
Review
Inflammatory diseases of the aorta comprise a spectrum of disease with diverse clinical and histopathologic presentations. Broadly, they may be dichotomized into infectious and noninfectious varieties. Although uncommon, infectious forms, caused by bacteria, fungi, or mycobacteria, may result from hematogenous seeding of the aorta or direct spread from a contiguous infectious source. The noninfectious forms include a number of entities, the most common of which is atherosclerosis, a disease that primarily affects the aortic intima but has important secondary effects on the media and adventitia that may result in aneurysm formation. Other important noninfectious inflammatory diseases include giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener granulomatosis), sarcoidosis, and lymphoplasmacytic aortitis. Importantly, there is increasing recognition that there is a subset of cases of lymphoplasmacytic aortitis perhaps better classified under the spectrum of so-called IgG4-related sclerosing disease, with important clinical and therapeutic ramifications. This review focuses on the variable and defining characteristics of the inflammatory aortopathies, specifically those affecting the ascending aorta, and discusses areas of important clinical and pathological distinction between them.
Topics: Aorta; Aortitis; Disease Progression; Humans; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors
PubMed: 25199476
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.07.046 -
European Journal of Vascular and... Apr 2023Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (InflAAAs) account for 5 - 10% of aortic aneurysms and are characterised by retroperitoneal fibrosis. Diagnosis is often delayed,... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (InflAAAs) account for 5 - 10% of aortic aneurysms and are characterised by retroperitoneal fibrosis. Diagnosis is often delayed, and doubts remain about the optimal management strategy. This scoping review describes the current state of knowledge on InflAAAs.
METHODS
Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies that evaluated the diagnosis and treatment of InflAAAs. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was followed.
RESULTS
Fifty-seven papers were selected (low level of evidence), which included 1 554 patients, who were mostly male and heavy smokers. A triad of chronic abdominal or back pain, weight loss, and elevated inflammatory markers was highly suggestive of the diagnosis but rarely present, and fever was noted only randomly. A mantle sign was seen on computed tomography angiography (CTA) in 73 - 100% of patients. Open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) was reported in 1 376 and 178 patients, respectively. OSR was associated with significant iatrogenic bowel (n = 22), urinary tract system (n = 7), venous (n = 30), pancreatic (n = 6), and splenic (n = 5) injuries, while EVAR was associated with lower 30 day mortality (0 - 5% vs. 0 - 32%). One and two year mortality rates were similar between the two treatment modalities (0 - 20% and 0 - 36%, respectively). EVAR was more often associated with post-operative progression of inflammation (17% vs. 0.4%), and a higher frequency of persistent hydronephrosis (> 50%) and limb occlusion (20%). Used in < 10% of patients, corticosteroids led to complete pain relief and a reduction in peri-aortic inflammation within 6 - 18 months.
CONCLUSION
InflAAAs are characterised by non-specific symptoms, with the mantle sign on CTA being pathognomonic. Corticosteroids may be considered a basic treatment that all patients should receive initially. Low quality data indicate that EVAR (vs. OSR) is associated with fewer intra-operative complications and lower peri-operative mortality but more late fibrosis related adverse events. International multicentre registries are required to gather more insights into this challenging pathology.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Aortitis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Endovascular Procedures; Inflammation; Postoperative Complications; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36623764
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2023.01.003