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Fibromuscular dysplasia: when is intervention warranted?

Thomas K Curry1, Louis M Messina

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of California, San Fransisco 94143, USA.

Seminars in Vascular Surgery
|September 17, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Fibromuscular dysplasia is a condition affecting arteries, often the renal and carotid. Treatment focuses on symptomatic lesions, with catheter intervention for simple cases and surgery for complex ones, yielding long-term results.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Medicine
  • Arterial Diseases

Background:

  • Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a multifactorial arteriopathy affecting small and medium-sized arteries.
  • Commonly impacts the renal and internal carotid arteries.
  • Pathological classification depends on the arterial wall layer affected.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the understanding of fibromuscular dysplasia, including its pathology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on fibromuscular dysplasia.
  • Classification based on arterial wall layer involvement.
  • Analysis of treatment strategies for symptomatic lesions.

Main Results:

  • The natural history and incidence of asymptomatic fibromuscular dysplasia remain unknown.
  • Symptomatic lesions commonly manifest as high-grade stenosis causing renovascular hypertension or cerebral embolism.
  • Catheter-based intervention is effective for simple lesions, while surgery is indicated for complex cases.

Conclusions:

  • Treatment is reserved for symptomatic fibromuscular dysplasia lesions.
  • Both interventional and surgical approaches offer durable, long-term results for affected patients.

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