Syphilitic aortic aneurysm

Abstract

The aim of this study was to outline the clinical features of syphilitic aortic aneurysm. The study materials were based on a comprehensive literature review of publications on syphilitic aortic aneurysm published between 2000 and 2017. Syphilitic aortic aneurysm occurred most commonly in the ascending aorta in either a saccular or a fusiform shape. Syphilitic aortic aneurysm was often complicated by aortic valve insufficiency (in almost half of the patients), and by a coronary artery/ostium lesion in 16.5% of the patients. Aortic valve operation was necessary in one fourth, and coronary artery surgery accounted for less than one fifth of patients warranting a surgical treatment. Although there was no difference in the survival rates between the surgically and conservatively treated patients, an aggressive treatment should be performed when diagnosis is made due to the potential risks of aneurysm rupture and sudden death.

Syphilitic aortitis: About a case in South Colombia

“…In addition, there are symptoms of heart failure, and it is usual for a murmur to be auscultated at the right sternal border 16 ; in our patient, a Grade III systolic murmur was audible in all foci, with high predominance in the aortic focus. The second most common complication is syphilitic aneurysm, which is 3 times less frequent than aortic regurgitation and is detected in 5-10% of patients; Grade II aortic regurgitation, moderate grade aortic valve calcification, and aneurysm of the aortic root and ascending aorta were found in our patient, which is consistent with the literature on the most common location of aneurysms (50% in the ascending aorta, 35% in the aortic arch and 15% in the descending aorta) [17][18][19][20] .…”

Aortitis sifilítica: a propósito de un caso del sur colombiano

“…Así mismo, hay síntomas de falla cardiaca y es habitual auscultar un soplo en el borde esternal derecho16; en nuestra paciente se evidenció un soplo sistólico de grado III audible en todos los focos y de gran predominio en el foco aórtico. En segunda instancia está el aneurisma sifilítico, el cual es tres veces menos frecuente que la insuficiencia aórtica, detectándose en el 5-10% de los pacientes; en nuestra paciente se encontró regurgitación aórtica de grado II, calcificación valvular aórtica de grado moderado y aneurisma de la raíz de la aorta y la aorta ascendente, consistente con la literatura sobre la ubicación más habitual de los aneurismas (50% en la aorta ascendente, 35% en el arco aórtico y 15% en la aorta descendente) [17][18][19][20] .…”

Ruptured Syphilitic Aneurysm: A Cause of Sudden Death in a Man with Human Immunodeficiency Coinfection

“…A focal arterial dissection was found at the rupture site. Syphilitic aortitis sometimes becomes a dissecting aortic aneurysm . Typically, dissecting aneurysms form from massive medial hematomas that pool at the pseudolumen.…”

“…Currently, syphilitic aortitis is very uncommon . A literature review found that there were only three sudden death cases among 115 reported syphilitic aneurysm cases from 2000 to 2017 . Of these sudden death cases, an autopsy was performed in only one case ; this forensic autopsy report of a ruptured syphilitic aneurysm that did not include information on whether the patient was MSM or HIV‐positive .…”