CASE OF A FEMALE PATIENT WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS AND MULTIPLE ANEURYSMS

Abstract

Aneurysms of the Valsalva sinuses are rare among cardiovascular disorders, with an incidence rate of 0.15%. Most cases are accidentally diagnosed or constated postmortem. Usually, this type of pathology is asymptomatic and might go undetected for a long time before the aneurism erupts. Patients with larger coronary aneurysms often complain of from chest pain, shortness of breath, and arrhythmia. Another extremely rare cardiovascular pathology is the aneurysm of the subclavian artery, which has a reported rate of 0.13%. Smaller subclavian aneurysms have no clinical manifestation, whereas larger ones cause murmur, pulsation phenomenons, neuropathic pain and ischemia of the upper limb due to compression of the brachial plexus and major vessels. Herein, we report a rare case of a very large aneurisms involving all three coronary sinuses and the whole aortic root in combination with a bilateral giant subclavian aneurism. These findings were made during a routine cardiological examination and further hospitalizations of a 54-year-old woman with chest pain and high blood pressure complaints with known ankylosing spondylitis. Despite their rarity, aneurysms of the sinuses of Valsalva and subclavian arteries are of utmost clinical significance due to the life-threatening complications which might arise from their rupture. Furthermore, such aneurysms pose significant technical difficulties during angiographic procedures. Therefore, detailed knowledge of such pathologies is essential for correctly diagnosing and treating such patients.