Rapid progression of an aortic lesion in a patient with aortitis syndrome.

In a 28-year-old woman with aortitis syndrome, repeated aortography revealed the development of a coarctation of the abdominal aorta occurring over a period of 1 year. Clinical and surgical examinations showed evidence of inflammation and ruled out other diseases during that time. This suggests that in cases of aortitis syndrome arterial lesions may show rapid progression over short time periods and in the absence of untoward events.