Aortitis is the inflammation of the aorta - the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and bringing oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.

A small number of people with spondylitis will display signs of chronic inflammation in the base of the heart - around the aortic valve and origin of the aorta (i.e. that vessel which takes all blood from the heart to be distributed throughout the body). Years of chronic and silent inflammation at these sites can eventually lead to heart block and valve leakage, sometimes requiring surgical treatment.

A case report entitled, "Aortitis and Spondyloarthritis-An Unusual Presentation: Case Report and Review of the Literature" published on the Science Direct website (sciencedirect.com) states that 2-12% of people with ankylosing spondylitis may also have aortic regurgitation where the aortic valve does not work properly (click here for information).

The article concludes that, "This unusual case emphasizes the importance of early and adequate workup for SpA in young patients with lone AR or aortic dilation."

To read the case report's abstract, click here.

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