Comparison of idiopathic (isolated) aortitis and giant cell arteritis-related aortitis. A French retrospective multicenter study of 117 patients

Abstract

IA is more severe than aortitis related to GCA, with higher proportions of aortic aneurism at diagnosis and during follow-up. IA is a heterogeneous disease and its prognosis is worse in younger patients <60 years. Most patients with IA ≥ 60 years share many features with GCA-related aortitis.

Giant cell arteritis: ophthalmic manifestations of a systemic disease

“…Presentations of aortitis specifically may include inflammatory dorsal and lower back pain, signs of vascular disease of the upper limbs, and higher level of acute phase reactants [85]. As aortitis is associated to arteritis of the supra-aortic vessels, the clinical picture in these patients is commonly that of aortic arch syndrome; claudication of the arms and absence or asymmetry of upper extremity pulses [86,87]. Factors predictive of large-artery stenosis on the other hand are said to include diminished pulse or blood pressure and/or claudication of an arm, TIA or stroke, and diplopia.…”

“…Recent imaging studies suggest that prevalence of aortitis in GCA was historically underestimated; infra-clinical aortitis is present in 20 to 65% of cases at diagnosis. [86].…”

Large vessel vasculitis: is it more common than usually assumed?

“…It is often diagnosed only at surgery and may represent an aneurysmal form of unrecognized, or spontaneously healed, TAK or GCA. IAA occurs in younger patients compared to GCA (7,8) and often leads to aortic damage requiring surgery (8). The definition chronic periaortitis (CP) indicates a condition in which an inflammatory mass surrounds the aorta and spreads to the peritoneum and, on occasion, the mediastinum (9,10).…”

Incidence of cardiovascular events in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis amongst an Asian population: Propensity score matched cohort study

“…Fourth, some patients who are diagnosed with GCA and have high‐risk factors for cardiovascular diseases may be prescribed antiplatelet medicine for prevention. Because the number of such patients in our study was limited and the prophylactic effect of antiplatelet medicine for primary cardiovascular disease prevention is controversial, the results may not be affected by the use of antiplatelet medicine. Fifth, our data did not include the etiology for outcomes.…”