Fibromuscular dysplasia (patient information)

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Editors-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. Associate Editor-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [mailto:urastogi@perfuse.org]

Overview
Fibromuscular dysplasia is caused by abnormal growth or development of cells in the walls of the arteries leading to the kidneys. This also leads to narrowing or blockage of these arteries.

What are the symptoms of Fibromuscular dysplasia?
Some patients experience no symptoms of the disease while others may have
 * high blood pressure
 * dizziness or vertigo
 * chronic headache
 * intracranial aneurysm
 * ringing in the ears
 * weakness or numbness in the face
 * neck pain
 * changes in vision.

What causes Fibromuscular dysplasia?
While the cause of fibromuscular dysplasia is unknown, it's believed that several factors may play a role.
 * Genetics. Genetics may play a role in the development of fibromuscular dysplasia. But, if another family member has fibromuscular dysplasia, you or a relative may never get fibromuscular dysplasia, or you might get the condition in a different artery or have a milder case or a more severe case than your family member's fibromuscular dysplasia. In addition, not everyone who has fibromuscular dysplasia has a relative with the disease.
 * Hormones. premenopausal women have this disease more often than men do.
 * Abnormally formed arteries

Who is at highest risk?
These factors increases the risk for the patients
 * Sex. Women have a much greater risk than men.
 * Age. more common in people from 25 to 50 years old.
 * Smoking appear to have an increased risk of developing fibromuscular dysplasia. For those already diagnosed with the disease, smoking increases further risk.

When to seek urgent medical care?
If you are young female and develop any of the above mentioned symptoms then you should call or visit a health care professional.

Diagnosis
Your doctor may also want to check for atherosclerosis,an another condition that can narrow your arteries.


 * Doppler ultrasound.
 * Computerized tomography (CT) angiogram
 * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
 * Digital subtraction angiogram

Treatment options
There is no standard protocol to treat FMD.Any treatment to improve blood flow is based on the arteries affected and the progression and severity of the disease. Treatment depends on
 * The present health of the patient.
 * The location of the narrowed artery.
 * Other underlying conditions present in the patient like high blood pressure.

Treatment options include medical procedures, surgery and medications

Medical Procedures
Angioplasty, in which a small balloon is inserted through a catheter and inflated to open the artery. Small tubes called stents may be inserted to keep arteries open.

Medications
Patients with minimal narrowing may take a daily antiplatelet such as an aspirin or an anticoagulant to thin the blood and reduce the chances that a clot might form. Medications such as aspirin can also be taken for headache and neck pain, symptoms that can come from FMD.

Surgery
Surgery may be needed to treat aneurysms that have the potential to rupture and cause bleeding within the brain.

Where to find medical care for Fibromuscular dysplasia?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Fibromuscular dysplasia

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
After the diagnosis have been made, a repeat Doppler ultrasound exam or a CT angiogram is done every six to 12 months to see the prognosis.

Possible complications

 * High blood pressure
 * Chronic kidney failure
 * Dissected artery
 * Aneurysm
 * Stroke

Prevention
It cannot be prevented. smoking cessation may reduce your chance of developing it.