Horton's aortitis.
Giant cell arteritis is the most common systemic vasculitis in people over the age of 50 years. Ischaemic manifestations are well known. 'Occult' manifestations as aortic aneurysmal disease need consideration. The incidence of aortic aneurysm and/or dissection is about 18.5 per 1000 person-years at risk (18.9 in Lugo(4) and 18.7 in Olmsted County(3)). Predictive factors are hypertension, polymyalgia rheumatica, coronaropathy, and hyperlipaemia. Another factor is the apparition of an aortic regurgitation murmur as in this case. So, these patients should be monitored by echocardiography.
Marchal
Vanessa
V
CHU de Liège, Sart Tilman B35, Liège 4000, Belgium. vanessa@produweb.be
Sprynger
Muriel
M
D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology