Thoracic aortic calcification in 3 children with candidiasis-endocrinopathy syndrome

Three cases are reported of the association of childhood onset of thoracic aortic calcification with mucocutaneous candidiasis, endocrine dysfunction and recurrent non-fungal pulmonary disease. The aortic calcification affects the thoracic aorta and the low lumbar aorta and common iliac arteries, sparing the mid-lumbar aorta and its major branches. Ischemic signs and symptoms of the head and neck and lower limbs are absent. This peculiar, slowly progressive vascular calcification, although unexplained to date, appears to be a non-random part of the more common candidiasis-endocrinopathy syndrome.