A case of Behçet's syndrome with descending aortic aneurysm
Ozawa, K.; Sugimura, S.; Hattori, Y.; Watanabe, K.; Kurahashi, M.; Sai, S.
Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai 34(10): 1872-1876
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-4739 PMID: 3805825 Document Number: 272317
Arterial aneurysms in patients with Behcet's syndrome are not rare and high risk of death from ruptured aneurysms is reported. However, successful surgical treatment of cardiovascular complications in this disease is often confronted with difficult technical problems associated with the chronic inflammatory process of unknown etiology. Herein, a case of descending aortic aneurysm in 47 year-old male with Behcet's syndrome is described. Chest X-ray film taken at medical checkup showed an abnormal shadow at the left pulmonary hilum which forced him to have close examination. He had suffered from occasional aphtous stomatitis, arthralgia and relapsing iridocyclitis which lead to complete blindness about 4 years before the referral to our clinic. Hematological examination on admission revealed no abnormality except moderate increase in erythrocyte sedimenation rate. Blood chemistry was within normal limits and test for syphilis was negative. CT and aortic cineangiography showed an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. The aneurysm was resected utilizing a temporary arch-to-left femoral artery bypass and replaced with a low porosity woven Dacron graft externally reinforced by Teflon felt wrappings at the proximal and distal anastomoses. The postoperative course was uneventful without using any particular drugs for the syndrome and good result was confirmed on CT and aortic cineangiography performed at 6 and 12 months, postoperatively. The patient is now well-being more than 3 years after the surgery.