Aortitis

Aortitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can occur by itself or in association with other blood vessel inflammation.

Aortitis

Aortitis is the inflammation of the largest artery in the body that has branches all over the body to provide blood. Aortitis can occur alone, or it can be a result of vasculitis.

Causes of aortitis

Inflammatory aortic disease can be a part of an underlying systemic vasculitis or connected with another inflammatory disease. Causes include:

• Systemic vasculitis and other inflammatory diseases: Behcet disease, Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, Kawasaki disease, polyarteritis nodosa, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Infections: syphilis, salmonella, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, herpes viruses, staphylococcus, rocky mountain spotted fever, gonococcal infection, and fungal infections.

Symptoms of aortitis

Symptoms of the inflammation of the aorta differ among people, depending on the cause. Symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain.
• Back pain.
• Abdominal pain.
• Vision changes.
• Headache.
• Fever.
• Pain in the arms or legs when using them.
• Swelling in the legs.
• Symptoms related to inflammation or vasculitis.
• Aortitis can lead to heart failure, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or rupture of the aorta.

Diagnosis of aortitis

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.
• Blood tests.
• Heart tests.

Treatment of aortitis

• Treating aortitis includes medications or surgery, depending on the case.