Coexistence of Takayasu's arteritis and ankylosing spondylitis may not be accidental - Is there a need for a new subgroup in the spondyloarthritis family?

Aortitis of ascending aorta is a recognized complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). There are a few published cases of diffuse aortitis and aorta collaterals inflammation that fulfill Takayasu's arteritis (TA) criteria coexisting with AS. We have reviewed published cases from literature and present three new cases of such coexistence.