Development of Mega-Aorta Following Incompletely Treated Giant Cell Arteritis
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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Darwin Eton1, Atman P Shah2, Aurelie Merlo3
1Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois;
Insights
This study details a complex aortic arch reconstruction in an elderly patient with multiple aneurysms and a history of giant cell arteritis. A novel cerebrovascular circuit ensured brain protection during the redo-sternotomy and aortic arch repair.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Aortic Aneurysm Disease
Background:
- An 82-year-old male presented with extensive aortic aneurysms involving the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and its branch vessels.
- The patient had a history of treated temporal arteritis and a prior ascending aortic aneurysm repair.
Abstract:
An 82-year-old male presented with a 9.3 cm ascending aorta and arch aneurysm with additional aneurysms of the innominate, right subclavian, and left common carotid arteries. The patient had a history of temporal arteritis that was only briefly treated in 1989 and a 6 cm ascending aortic aneurysm that was repaired in 1993. Our operative strategy was to construct a temporary parallel cerebrovascular circuit for cerebral protection during the redo-sternotomy and aortic arch reconstruction, with the added benefit of permanently excluding the branch arch vessel aneurysms. Pathological analysis of the aortic specimen at the first operation may have identified giant cell arteritis, prompting medical therapy against further disease progression.
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