Long-Term Outcome and Prognosis of Noninfectious Thoracic Aortitis

BACKGROUND Aortitis is a group of disorders characterized by the inflammation of the aorta. The large-vessel vasculitides are the most common causes of aortitis. Aortitis long-term outcomes are not well known.OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term outcome and prognosis of noninfectious surgical thoracic aortitis. METHODS This was a retrospective multicenter study of 5,666 patients with thoracic aorta surgery including 217 (3.8%) with noninfectious thoracic aortitis (118 clinically isolated aortitis, 57 giant cells arteritis, 21 Takayasu arteritis, and 21 with various systemic autoimmune disorders). Factors associated with vascular complications and a second vascular procedure were assessed by multivariable analysis.RESULTS Indications for aortic surgery were asymptomatic aneurysm with a critical size (n = 152 [70%]), aortic dissection (n = 28 [13%]), and symptomatic aortic aneurysm (n = 30 [14%]). The 10-year cumulative incidence of vascular complication and second vascular procedure was 82.1% (95% CI: 67.6%-90.6%), and 42.6% (95% CI: 28.4%-56.1%), respectively. Aortic arch aortitis (HR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.26-3.44; P = 0.005) was independently associated with vascular complications. Descending thoracic aortitis (HR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.11-4.96; P = 0.031) and aortic dissection (HR: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.61-5.90; P = 0.002) were independently associated with a second vascular procedure, while treatment with statins after aortitis diagnosis (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.90; P = 0.028) decreased it. After a median follow-up of 3.9 years, 19 (16.1%) clinically isolated aortitis patients developed features of a systemic inflammatory disease and 35 (16%) patients had died.CONCLUSIONS This multicenter study shows that 82% of noninfectious surgical thoracic aortitis patients will experience a vascular complication within 10 years. We pointed out specific characteristics that identified those at highest risk for subsequent vascular complications and second vascular procedures.(c) 2023 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.