Fibromuscular dysplasia: Renal

Abstract

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic, noninflammatory disease of medium-sized arteries characterized by abnormal cell growth leading to stenosis, occlusion, dissection, or aneurysm formation. It was first described in a 5-year-old child by Leadbetter in 1938; however, the first accurate pathologic description was set by McCormack and coworkers in 1958. Almost every artery can be involved, and in 26 % of patients, more than one arterial region is involved. It involves the renal arteries in 60–75 % of cases and is often bilateral, cerebrovascular arteries in 25–30 %, visceral arteries in 9 %, and less commonly in the carotid, iliac, or other vessels. The incidence of FMD is unknown; however, it is more common than previously thought.