Inflammatory infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm in a young woman

Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare cause of abdominal pain in young adults that may be difficult to diagnose in the Emergency Department. This case highlights the significance of this condition as a possible diagnosis in young patients presenting with abdominal symptoms. A 32-year old woman presented with lower abdominal and back pain. She had four previous visits to the Emergency Department and one hospital admission with similar symptoms and had been discharged without a definite diagnosis. Her vascular risk factors included hypercholesterolemia and smoking. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a non-leaking infrarenal saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm and para-aortic lymphadenopathy. A transthoracic echocardiogram excluded endocarditis. There was no evidence of bacterial, viral, or fungal infection on blood and serum assays, and her autoimmune screen was negative. She underwent urgent open repair using a synthetic graft. The aneurysmal wall and para-aortic lymph node histology confirmed the diagnosis of inflammatory aneurysm with periaortitis. She remained asymptomatic at 8 months after surgery with no evidence of additional aneurysmal disease. Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm is an unusual cause of abdominal pain in young adults. It is more likely in patients with persistent or recurrent abdominal symptoms.