ANATOMOCLINICAL STUDY OF AORTIC-INSUFFICI ENCY IN ATROPHIC POLYCHONDRITIS - A CASE-REPORT

The authors report the anatomo-clinical features of aortic insufficien cy complicating atrophic polychondritis, a rare inflammatory disease a ffecting mainly cartilaginous tissues. This case illustrates the infla mmatory changes of the aortic wall, particularly progressive during th is disease, responsible for aortic insufficiency and aneurysmal dilata tion of the ascending aorta which required aortic valve replacement an d prosthetic replacement of the ascending aorta. Histological analysis showed inflammatory lesions of the aortic wall comparable to the cart ilaginous lesions described in this condition and suggesting a common physiopathogenic mechanism.