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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
11:13
Porcine Model of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: November 21, 2019
[Infectious or inflammatory aortitis? One case report]
Y Benhamou1, D Plissonnier, N Cailleux
1Département de Médecine Interne, CHU de Rouen-Bois-Guillaume, 76031 Rouen Cedex, France. ygalben@wanadoo.fr
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|June 23, 2006
Summary
Aortitis diagnosis can be challenging due to negative microbiological tests. This case highlights the importance of reconsidering treatment strategies when aneurysms develop during therapy for suspected inflammatory aortitis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Aortitis diagnosis is often complicated by negative microbiological findings, making it difficult to distinguish between infectious and inflammatory causes.
- Aneurysm development during treatment for aortitis is uncommon but necessitates reassessment of therapeutic strategies and etiological diagnosis.
Observation:
- A 69-year-old woman with presumed inflammatory aortitis was treated with corticosteroids.
- She developed a dissected aneurysm requiring emergency surgery.
- Intraoperative samples tested positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae via polymerase chain reaction.
Findings:
- The positive microbiological results changed the diagnosis from inflammatory to infectious aortitis.
- The patient's condition improved significantly after initiating antibiotic therapy.
Implications:
- Corticosteroid treatment for aortitis should be approached cautiously, even with initially negative microbiological tests.
- Infectious causes of aortitis, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, should be considered, especially in cases of aneurysm development.
- Advanced diagnostic techniques like polymerase chain reaction are crucial for accurate etiological identification in challenging aortitis cases.
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