Aortitis is the all-encompassing pathological term ascribed to inflammation of the aorta. Regardless of the etiology, it frequently results in aortic root dilatation and aortic insufficiency rather than aortic stenosis. The rare case of aortitis such as isolated idiopathic aortitis may occur without evidence of systenic inflammatory disease or infection, and usually has subclinical nature. Even though the goals of therapy include immediate treatment of aortic inflammation or infection, the optimal management of isolated idiopathic aortitis is uncertain. We report a rare case of isolated idiopathic aortitis mimicking acute severe aortic stenosis, which was improved after steroid therapy.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortitis ; Dilatation ; Inflammation

Here we describe a case of rapidly expanding ascending aortic aneurysm in a patient with relapsing polychondritis. To prevent aneurysm rupture, the patient underwent emergent surgical repair. Silent inflammation can progress in the aorta wall, even in asymptomatic patients with mild disease activity under immunosuppressive treatment, leading to the rapid growth of aortic aneurysms. Close monitoring with routine imaging is needed once a patient with relapsing polychondritis is diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Polychondritis, Relapsing* ; Rupture

In the real-time two-dimensional Doppler flow mapping(2DD) system, Doppler signals are processed using auto-correlation technique, so that the direction, velocity and turbulence of the intracardiac blood flow are displayed by coloration on the B mode image of the heart in real time. Aortic regurgitant flow is imaged as a mosaic jet spurting out from the aortic valve orifice to cardiac chamber. Dynamic features in the direction and extent of regurgitant flow and the site of regurgitation on the aortic valve orifice are readily obtained. Feasibility of the 2DD system in the assesment of aortic regurgitation was examined in 30 cases documented by angiography. In 30 cases, there were 20 cases with aortic regurgitation(AR) aged 16 to 57 years(mean 34) and 10 cases without AR aged 17 to 39 years(mean 30). The underlying disorders of AR were rheumatic in 15 cases, bicuspid aortic valve in 1, ventricular septal defect in 1, aortitis in 1, Marfan's syndrome in 1 and unknown in 1. The results are as follows : 1) In 19 out of 20 cases with AR the 2DD showed regurgitant jet spurting out from valve orifice(sensitivity=95%). One case missed by the 2DD had 1+AR. None of the 10 cases who had no AR manifested the evidence of AR on the 2DD(specificity=100%). 2) There was an excellent positive correlation between the maximal jet length of regurgitant flow on the 2DD and angiographic severity of regurgitation(r=0.998, p<0.001). The maximal jet length was less than 3cm for cases with 1+, 3-4.9cm for 2+, 5-5.9cm for 3+, and 6cm or more for 4+AR. 3) In 19 out of 20 cases with AR, the 2DD identifed the anatomic valvular site of regurgitation(sensitivity=95%, specificity=100%). 4) The regurgitant aortic valvular area was measured as 0.6cm2 or less in all of 12 cases with 2+ or less AR, while 0.9cm2 or more in 6 out of 7 cases with 3+or more AR. Thus, a less or greater than 0.8cm2 regurgitant aortic valvular area provides to discriminate between mild(< or = 2+) and severe(> or = 3+) AR. 5) In all 8 cases with fluttering of anterior mitral leaflet and 8 out of 9 cases with fluttering of interventricular septum, a regurgitant jet impinged on them. The results of this investigation indicate that the 2DD system is a very useful and unique noninvasive technique in the detection, estimation of severity and spatial orientation of AR.
Angiography ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Aortitis ; Bicuspid ; Equidae ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Marfan Syndrome

Cogan's syndrome is a rare systemic inflammatory disease and can be diagnosed on the basis of typical inner ear and ocular involvement with the presence of large vessel vasculitis. We report a case of Cogan's syndrome with stable angina resulting from coronary ostial stenosis caused by aortitis.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Aortitis ; Cogan Syndrome ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Ear, Inner ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Vasculitis

Syphilis, a chronic systemic infection caused by Treponema pallidum, is usually sexually transmitted and characterized by episodes of active disease interrupted by a latent period. After an incubation period of averaging 2-6 weeks, a primary syphilis with a firm, non-tender chancre appears, often associated with regional lymphadenopathy. Secondary syphilis shows localized or diffuse mucocutaneous lesions and generalized non-tender lymphadenopathy. In about onethird of untreated cases, the tertiary stage appears, characterized by progressive destructive mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal or parenchymal lesions, aortitis or symptomatic central nervous system diseases. Without serological testing, the precise diagnosis is very difficult. In fact, it has often been called the great imitator because it was often confused with other disease. We report a very unusual case of luetic lymphadenitis presented as a solitary submandibular mass.
Aortitis ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; Chancre ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neck ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum

Infectious aortitis is an uncommon yet, life threatening disease. Early surgical treatment and prolonged antibiotic therapy is crucial to survival. Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common organisms isolated. There is no case report of infectious aortitis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, which has recently emerged as a major cause of health care-associated infections. Here, we describe a 76-year-old male with infectious aortitis who experienced recurrent bacteremia due to A. baumannii in spite of adequate antimicrobial therapy after aortic valve replacement.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter* ; Aged ; Aortic Valve* ; Aortitis* ; Bacteremia* ; Humans ; Male ; Salmonella ; Staphylococcus aureus

Aorta ; Aortitis ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Takayasu Arteritis/drug therapy*

Cogan's syndrome is a rare chronic inflammatory disease Characterized by non-syphilitic keratitis and vestibuloauditory dysfunction. Although the precise pathogenesis of Cogan's syndrome is unknown, it is thought to develop from vasculitis involving multiple organ system. It can be accompanied with various systemic diseases including arthritis, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and aortitis with insufficiency. We report a case of typical Cogan's syndrome with multiple cerebral infarctions.
Aortitis ; Arthritis ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cogan Syndrome ; Keratitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Splenomegaly ; Vasculitis

Noninfectious aortitis, inflammatory abdominal periaortitis, and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis are chronic inflammatory diseases with unclear causes. Recent studies have shown that some cases of aortitis are associated with immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related systemic disease. Herein, we report a case of IgG4-related aortitis (IgG4-RA) that was diagnosed after surgery. Our patient was a 46-year-old man who had experienced abdominal pain for several weeks. Preoperative evaluations revealed an area of aortitis on the infrarenal aorta. He underwent surgery, and histological examination resulted in a diagnosis of IgG4-RA.
Abdominal Pain ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortitis ; Arteritis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Middle Aged ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis

Infectious aortitis is an uncommon yet, life threatening disease. Early surgical treatment and prolonged antibiotic therapy is crucial to survival. Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common organisms isolated. There is no case report of infectious aortitis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, which has recently emerged as a major cause of health care-associated infections. Here, we describe a 76-year-old male with infectious aortitis who experienced recurrent bacteremia due to A. baumannii in spite of adequate antimicrobial therapy after aortic valve replacement.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter* ; Aged ; Aortic Valve* ; Aortitis* ; Bacteremia* ; Humans ; Male ; Salmonella ; Staphylococcus aureus