syphilitic aortitis, inflammation of the aorta occurring in tertiary syphilis. It is characterized by diffuse dilation with gray, wheal-like plaques containing calcium on the inside and scars and wrinkles on the outside of the aorta. The middle layer of the aortic wall is usually infiltrated with plasma cells and contains fragments of damaged elastic tissue and many newly formed blood vessels. There may be damage to the cardiac valves, narrowing of the mouths of the coronary arteries, and formation of thrombi. Cerebral embolism may result. Signs of syphilitic aortitis are substernal pain, dyspnea, bounding pulse, and high systolic blood pressure. Penicillin may slow the course of the disease, but it cannot reverse the structural damage to the vessels and the heart. Also called Döhle-Heller disease, luetic aortitis.
