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Periaortitis heralding Wegener's granulomatosis
Roux-Serratrice Christine de1, Jacques Serratrice, Brigitte Granel
1Service de Médecine Interne, CHU Timone, France.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|February 13, 2002
Summary
This case study highlights a man with coronary artery disease and cholesterol embolism who developed periaortitis and Wegener's granulomatosis. It suggests a link between atherosclerosis and inflammation, with periaortitis potentially indicating Wegener's.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Atherosclerosis and inflammatory conditions are complex diseases.
- Wegener's granulomatosis (now Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis) is a rare autoimmune disorder.
- Cholesterol embolism can occur after procedures like angioplasty.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old male patient presented with sequential conditions.
- Initial presentation included atheromatous coronary artery disease and cholesterol embolism post-angioplasty.
- Subsequent development of periaortitis with cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA) and typical pulmonary lesions of Wegener's granulomatosis were observed.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates a potential link between atheromatous disease and inflammatory processes.
- Periaortitis, characterized by inflammation around the aorta, was identified.
- The patient's presentation ultimately led to a diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis.
Implications:
- This case suggests that periaortitis may be an underrecognized manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis.
- Understanding the interplay between atherosclerosis and vasculitis is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Further research may elucidate shared pathways between atheromatous disease and autoimmune inflammatory conditions.