[A case of aortitis syndrome, in which carotid ultrasonography was a useful approach for the diagnosis].
We report a case of aortitis syndrome, in which carotid ultrasonography was a useful approach for the diagnosis. A 21-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for persistent fever. No specific physical findings or laboratory abnormalities were observed except high fever and marked increase of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and c reactive protein. Since clinical trial of antibiotics and antituberculosis agents resulted in no effectiveness, prednisolone was started, but the effect was limited. After that, she complained of the neck pain, and vascular murmur became apparently audible at the pain site. Ultrasonography of the carotid artery revealed the smooth lumen and homogeneous, non-hyperechoic intimal thickening. Then aortography confirmed the diagnosis of aortitis syndrome. Cyclophosphamide combined with steroid therapy diminished the disease activity. In this case, carotid ultrasonography gave us the important information to enforce the aortography. If ultrasonography of the carotid artery has been popularized for aortitis syndrome, and its findings have been standardized, non-invasive diagnosis of this disease will be taken a step forward.
Watanabe
Y
Y
Department of Medicine, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical College.
Kubota
K
K
Tsuchiya
K
K
Hara
Y
Y
Nihei
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001015:Aortic Arch Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional