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Aortic dissection presenting as fever of unknown origin

M S Dai1, S M Cheng

  • 1Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Acta Cardiologica
|April 21, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Acute aortic dissection can present unusually, sometimes with prolonged fever as a primary symptom. This case highlights fever as a potential key indicator of aortic dissection, even without chest pain.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Acute aortic dissection presents diverse clinical symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
  • Fever is often associated with aortic dissection but rarely the dominant feature.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with prolonged, spiking fever of unknown origin after an acute aortic dissection.
  • The fever persisted as a significant clinical issue post-dissection.

Findings:

  • Prolonged fever can be a primary or residual manifestation of acute aortic dissection.
  • Aortic dissection may present with atypical symptoms, including painless presentations.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider acute aortic dissection in cases of prolonged fever, especially unexplained fevers.
  • Recognizing atypical presentations of aortic dissection is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

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