Aortic aneurysm as a complication of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Abstract

Myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV) does not usually involve large vessels, such as the aorta. However, we experienced three cases having an aortic aneurysm as a complication of MPO-AAV with renal insufficiency. In one patient it involved the onset of descending aortic dissection during treatment for MPO-AAV; another two patients had an abdominal aortic aneurysm at the time of our diagnosis of MPO-AAV. Although we found no pathological evidence in our patients, MPO-AAV might result in large vessel inflammation. Therefore, we suggest that patients with MPO-AAV should be examined by computed tomography scan to check for the presence of an aortic aneurysm.

Keywords

• antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (ANCA-associated vasculitis)
• myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)
• microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) aortic aneurysm
• connective tissue disease