Fibromuscular Dysplasia of the Lower Extremities

Abstract

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic, non-inflammatory vascular disease that mainly affects the renal and internal carotid arteries. Involvement of other sites, including arteries of the extremities, is uncommon, and only a few histologically confirmed cases have been reported. FMD of the arteries of the extremities can result in ischemia requiring surgical or endovascular reconstruction. In the present report, two cases of FMD are described: one case of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease, and one case of nonsymptomatic progression of external iliac artery dissection, both with histological confirmation of FMD. Clinical presentation, treatment, outcome and histological findings of previously reported cases are reviewed. FMD should be considered as a cause of occlusion, stenosis, dissection or aneurysm of the peripheral arteries: although rare, it can lead to limb-threatening ischemia or life-threatening aneurysm rupture.