What is an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
Inflammatory AAAs are aortic aneurysms associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis. These aneurysms are surrounded by extensive inflammation and fibrosis that often lead to complications such as ureteral obstruction. Some authorities believe that the surrounding fibrosis is a result of microscopic leakage of the aneurysm causing a severe secondary inflammatory response, whereas others espouse a viral or immune reaction–related etiology. Inflammatory aneurysms are much less common than atherosclerotic aneurysms.
