A Case of Ascending Aortic Dissection and Rupture Caused by Giant Cell Arteritis

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation in the wall of medium-sized and large-sized arteries, and it usually occurs in patients over 50 years of age.¹⁾ Symptoms are nonspecific, and include fatigue, fever, and headache.²⁾ It is occasionally combined with aortic complications, and ruptures resulting in death. These complications occur as late events, usually several years after diagnosis and often after other symptoms have subsided.³⁾ Physicians should therefore be alert for complications of the large arteries in GCA. Here we present a case of GCA combined with ascending aortic dissection and rupture 3 weeks after diagnosis.