Coarctation and hypoplasia of the abdominal aorta

In this study we report one case of abdominal aortic coarctation of unknown etiology, probably congenital or connatal, and two cases of aortoiliac occlusion in young non-diabetic patients, with an intrinsically small aortoiliac tree. These syndromes usually appear in young age; the principal clinical features are arterial insufficiency involving the lower extremities, often well tolerated, and hypertension. The differential diagnosis is with primitive atherosclerotic or inflammatory pathology. Echography and Doppler-echography can be helpful in the diagnosis, but intra arterial digital angiography is mandatory in confirming it. Medical therapy is usually unsuccessful, especially in controlling blood pressure, therefore surgery still remains the treatment of choice, together with PTA that can be applicable in selected cases.