Merck Manual

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Fibromuscular Dysplasia

By

Koon K. Teo

, MBBCh, PhD, McMaster University

Reviewed/Revised May 2021 | Modified Sep 2022
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Topic Resources

Fibromuscular dysplasia is abnormal thickening of the walls of arteries that is not related to atherosclerosis or inflammation but that causes artery narrowing or blockage.

Blood Vessels
VIDEO

Fibromuscular dysplasia may affect the arteries that supply the kidneys (renal arteries), brain (carotid and intracranial arteries), stomach and intestine (intra-abdominal arteries such as the celiac and mesenteric arteries), or the arteries that branch off the lower part of the aorta to supply the legs (external iliac arteries). People may have fibromuscular dysplasia in more than one artery.

Fibromuscular dysplasia usually causes no symptoms regardless of location. Symptoms, when they occur, vary by location.

Treatment of Fibromuscular Dysplasia

  • Angioplasty, surgery, or aneurysm repair

Bypass Surgery in the Leg

Bypass surgery may be done to treat arteries that are narrowed or blocked. In this procedure, blood is rerouted around the affected artery—for example, around part of the femoral artery in the thigh or part of the popliteal artery in the knee. A graft consisting of a tube made of a synthetic material or part of a vein from another part of the body is joined to the blocked artery above and below the blockage.

Bypass Surgery in the Leg

More Information

The following are English-language resources that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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