Aortitis

Inflammation of the aorta (the main artery of the body). Aortitis is a rare condition that occurs in people with arteritis or untreated syphilis and in some people with ankylosing spondylitis. Aortitis may cause part of the aorta to widen and its walls to become thinner. This may lead to an aneurysm (ballooning of the artery). Aortitis may damage the ring around the aortic valve in the heart, leading to aortic incompetence.