Clinical problems of nonspecific aortic arteritis
Semenkova, E.N.; Generalova, S.I.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 70(11): 50-53
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 9949461 Document Number: 492606
The insight into the causes of late diagnosis and analysis of clinical variants of nonspecific aortic arteritis (NSAA) including rare forms--with involvement of the kidneys, intestine, lungs, heart. Physical, laboratory and immunological tests, angiography, ultrasound dopplerography were employed in examination of 65 NSAA patients observed in 1955-1996. Accurate diagnosis of NSAA is made late (5 years from the first symptoms, on the average) when ischemic damage has become irreversible. The causes of such situation are outlined with special emphasis on NSAA variants running with affection of the lesser circulation vessels, coronary flow, kidneys (nephritis, amyloidosis), intestine (Crohn's disease, nonspecific ulcerative colitis). Men suffer more than women: they develop more frequently myocardial infarctions, thromboembolism. However, their arteries look better. Mechanisms of NSAA onset and progression may be related to defects in vascular endothelium, hyperproduction of antibodies to cardiolipin, antiendothelial antibodies. Management of NSAA meets with the problem of late diagnosis which means greater risk of severe vascular complications and deterioration of the prognosis.