Syphilitic aortitis

<p>Syphilitic aortitis  is <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a> of the <a href="/facts/Aorta/ov2Gp9h4">aorta</a> associated with the <a href="/facts/Tertiary_syphilis/fdnGLyLT">tertiary stage of syphilis infection</a>. SA begins as inflammation of the <a href="/facts/Adventitia/rSyJHUkx">outermost layer</a> of the blood vessel, including the blood vessels that supply the aorta itself with blood, the <a href="/facts/Vasa_vasorum/44Lj3ph2">vasa vasorum</a>. As SA worsens, the vasa vasorum undergo <a href="/facts/Hyperplasia/gDv6kB4j">hyperplastic</a> thickening of their walls thereby restricting blood flow and causing <a href="/facts/Ischemia/ySL9xbCl">ischemia</a> of the outer two-thirds of the aortic wall. Starved for oxygen and nutrients, elastic fibers become patchy and smooth muscle cells die. If the disease progresses, syphilitic <a href="/facts/Aortitis/olU6I8Uh">aortitis</a> leads to an <a href="/facts/Aortic_aneurysm/8HxHLCG5">aortic aneurysm</a>. Overall, tertiary syphilis is a rare cause of aortic aneurysms. Syphilitic aortitis has become rare in the developed world with the advent of <a href="/facts/Penicillin/Abo8VQ3p">penicillin</a> treatments after <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>.
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Syphilitic aortitis open-in-new

Syphilitic aortitis