[Involvement of thoracic aorta revealing temporal arteritis. Three cases].
BACKGROUND
Temporal arteritis involves large vessels in 15% of cases. Their discovery is usually late, commonly several years after the diagnosis.


METHODS
We describe three cases of temporal arteritis with thoracic aorta involvement: two patients presented with aorta aneurysm which revealed temporal arteritis, one patient had aortic insufficiency. Clinical features of temporal arteritis were absent in two patients. Temporal artery biopsy, performed in two cases, was positive. Two patients were treated with corticosteroids, associated in one case with immunosuppressive agent. Surgery was necessary in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracic aorta involvement in Horton's disease is most often discovered when corticotherapy is decreased. Aneurysm rupture or aortic dissection in aortic affection are the major complication. Patient with thoracic aorta involvement need a clinical and radiological follow up over long period.
Navellou
J-C
JC
Service de médecine interne, CHU Jean-Minjoz, Besançon, France. jcnavellou@chu-besancon.fr
Gil
H
H
Meaux-Ruault
N
N
Magy
N
N
Kantelip
B
B
Dupond
J-L
JL
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents