title: Inflammatory aortic aneurysm in a young patient with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Inflammatory conditions are a rare cause of aortic aneurysms, accounting for 3% to 10% of cases. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis uncommonly present with ascending aortic aneurysms related to long-standing, aggressive disease. We review the case of a young man with ankylosing spondylitis exhibiting complex inflammatory aortic aneurysms atypically involving the abdominal and descending thoracic aorta, as well as ectasia of medium-sized visceral vessels. Inflammatory aneurysms require a multidisciplinary approach incorporating diagnostic modalities to confirm etiology, targeted immunosuppressive therapy to control disease activity, and aneurysm repair. Evidence suggests that endovascular approaches should be considered first-line therapy for patients requiring reconstruction when anatomy is appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert J H
authors.initials: RJH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Byung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mosher
authors.affiliation: Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: nanettealvarez@shaw.ca.
authors.forename: Nanette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001706:Biopsy; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome