ATYPICAL COARCTATION OF THE THORACIC AORT A DUE TO FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA

Fibromuscular dysplasia is a non-inflammatory disease unrelated to ath erosclerosis of the small and medium sized arterial walls, which often affects the renal and carotid arteries and occurs mainly in women. Th e authors report a case of atypical coarctation of the thoracic aorta due to fibromuscular dysplasia confirmed histologically in a 27 year o ld man. Arteriography was performed because of hypertension and asymet ry of blood pressure measurements and showed irregular stenosis of the aortic isthmus and of the origin of the left subclavian artery. Surge ry comprised resection of the pathological segment of the aorta which was replaced by a prosthetic tube with reimplantation of the left subc lavian artery. Histological examination showed fibromuscular dysplasia in perimedial areas and diffusely throughout the media. To the author 's knowledge this is the first case to be reported in the medical lite rature.