Etymed
aortitis
Definition
inflammation of the aorta
Clinical context
A 45-year-old man presents with constitutional symptoms including fever, night sweats, and weight loss. On examination, he has a new diastolic murmur and elevated inflammatory markers. A CT scan reveals diffuse aortic wall thickening. His symptoms improve significantly after starting corticosteroid therapy. This presentation is consistent with giant cell arteritis, a form of aortitis commonly seen in elderly patients with temporal arteritis.
Mnemonic
AORTITIS - Aorta Inflammation, Often in Temporal Arteritis, with Inflammatory Symptoms