Reiter's Syndrome and Aortic Insufficiency

Two men with Reiter's syndrome are described who developed aortic insufficiency with no evidence of syphilis or rheumatic heart disease. One patient, who had complete heart block and died of cardiac failure, was found to have mesoaortic disease and dilatation of the aortic valve with rolling of the free margins of the semilunar cusps. The other patient is living but has angina pectoris and exertional dyspnea. Cardiac catheterization in this case revealed severe aortic regurgitation. The clinical and pathological changes in these and other cases of Reiter's syndrome with aortic insufficiency appear to be similar to those described in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and aortic root and valvular disease.