Korean Circ J.  1987 Sep;17(3):577-583. 10.4070/kcj.1987.17.3.577.

A Case of Syphilitic Aneurysm in Ascending Aorta

• Roe IH
• Lee JH
• Kim JH
• Im HK
• Lee BH
• Lee CK
• Park MH

• KMID: 2093226
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1987.17.3.577

Abstract

Cardiovascular syphilis is one of the most important complications of tertiary syphilis, although its incidence is decreasing in recent years. Aortitis is the primary manifestation of cardiovascular syphilis, resulting most commonly in aortic aneurysm, aortic regurgitation and coronary artery ostial obstruction. The authors experienced 46-year-ole male with a history of chancre 20 years ago, and several bouts of right chest pain since last year. Serologic tests revealed reactive in VDRL (1:64) and in TPHA test. Chest x-ray, chest CT, echocardiogram and aortogram showed aneurysm of ascending aorta with no evidence of aortic regrugitation of coronary obstruction. Histologic findings of involved aorta revealed "tree bark" appearance in gross, and microscopically adventitial thickening with endarteritis of the vasa vasorum and destruction of elastic tissue of media, showing moth-eaten appearance. The patient was underwent excision of the aneurysm and dacron aortic prosthetic graft was replaced with success.

Keyword

Aortic aneurysm

MeSH Terms

Aneurysm*
Aorta*
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Valve Insufficiency
Aortitis
Chancre
Chest Pain
Coronary Vessels
Elastic Tissue
Endarteritis
Humans
Incidence
Male
Polyethylene Terephthalates
Serologic Tests
Syphilis
Syphilis, Cardiovascular
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Transplants
Vasa Vasorum
Polyethylene Terephthalates