[Surgical and endoluminal management of the inflammatory aortitis: A Tunisian center experience]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Rheumatology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Non-infectious aortitis commonly results from giant-cell arteritis, Takayasu disease, or Behçet disease.
• Aortic lesions include stenoses, occlusions, and aneurysms, varying by disease etiology.
• Current treatment paradigms combine corticosteroid therapy, surgery, and increasingly, endoluminal interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze the outcomes of surgical and endoluminal management for inflammatory aortic lesions.
• To evaluate treatment strategies in patients with Takayasu disease and Behçet disease affecting the aorta.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective descriptive study of 10 patients treated between January 2000 and December 2015.
• Inclusion criteria: patients with inflammatory aortic lesions managed surgically or endoluminally.
• Data collected on disease type, aortic lesion characteristics, treatment modality, and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study included 4 cases of Takayasu disease and 6 cases of Behçet disease.
• Behçet disease patients predominantly presented with aneurysmal lesions; Takayasu disease patients had predominantly occlusive lesions.
• Surgical management was employed in 4 Behçet disease patients and all Takayasu disease patients, while 2 Behçet disease patients underwent endovascular repair.
• Mortality included 2 postoperative deaths and 2 deaths during long-term follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Aortic aneurysms are a frequent complication requiring diligent screening and lifelong monitoring.
• Both surgical and endovascular approaches have a role in managing inflammatory aortitis, but outcomes require careful consideration.
• Long-term surveillance is essential for patients with inflammatory aortic diseases due to the high risk of aneurysm formation and progression.