Atherosclerotic coarctation of the abdominal aorta in women

In the ten year interval from 1967 to 1976, in a group of 200 patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease, six were identified who presented a unique combination of physical findings, angiographic abnormalities and pathologic changes. Atherosclerotic coarctation describes this entity because of the discreteness of the lesion found, the extent to which the aorta is occluded and the presence of extensive collaterals. Pathologically, the lesion is an organized thrombus forming on a single ulcerated plaque in an aorta with a lumen that is otherwise well preserved. Distally, infantile vessels are found. Other features have been the absence of diabetes mellitus and the fact that all of these patients have been women. All but one patient smoked cigarettes. Local endarterectomy restored pedal pulses and provided lasting relief of symptoms in all of the patients.