Open AccessSevere aortic regurgitation: A rare presentation of giant cell arteritis
Author(s) -
Vered Z.,
Pras M.,
Horowitz A.,
Rath S.,
Neufeld H. N.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960091007
Subject(s) - medicine , aortitis , regurgitation (circulation) , giant cell arteritis , arteritis , aortic valve , cardiology , aortic valve regurgitation , giant cell , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , surgery , aorta , vasculitis , pathology , disease
A 53‐year‐old patient with no past history of rheumatic fever or lues presented with severe aortic regurgitation, underwent hemodynamic evaluation, and subsequently, an uneventful aortic valve replacement. The initial pathological interpretation was nonspecific aortitis. Six months following surgery arthralgia, muscular pain, difficulty in mastication, and fatigue occurred. There was no fever, however, sedimentation rate was 100/130. Cardiac examination was normal. Review of the pathological specimens revealed granulomatous arteritis with giant cells, typical of giant cell arteritis. Though the association of aortic regurgitation and giant cell arteritis is well recognized, only two such cases of severe aortic regurgitation requiring valve replacements have yet been described, of them, one probably had Takayasu's arteritis. An accurate diagnosis is of importance since steroid treatment is effective, and if introduced early, the inflammatory process may be arrested.