Aortic regurgitation in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa
Woo, E.; Ozawa, H.; Daimon, M.; Katsumata, T.
Kyobu Geka. Japanese Journal of Thoracic Surgery 67(2): 130-133
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-5252 PMID: 24743483 Document Number: 672214
Polyarteritis nodosa (PN) is vasculitis of small- to medium-sized arteries. A 57-year-old woman with PN developed aortic valve regurgitation. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed. We found inflammatory change of the ascending aorta which was rarely involved in PN. Abnormal thickness of the aortic wall was recognized during operation, which had not been detected by preoperative computed tomography. Perioperative course was uneventful, and the patient underwent anti-inflammatory therapy after the operation. No perivalvular leakage has been detected for 3 years since AVR. We should consider the possibility of aortitis, when cardiovascular operations are performed in patients with vasculitis for small- to medium-sized arteries.