RETROPERITONEAL FIBROSIS AND CHRONIC PERIAORTITIS - A NEW HYPOTHESIS

The etiology of retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease) has still not been clarified. A new hypothesis postulates chronic fibrosing peri aortitis. Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and plaque rupture le ad to the liberation of oxidized lipoproteins through he adventitia in to the periaortic fatty tissue. This results in a chronic inflammatory process. In support of the periaortitis hypothesis is our finding tha t 9 of 14 consecutively studied patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis had either proven atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta or a high pr obability of this in view of multiple vascular risk factors. No patien ts had received previous methysergide medication.