Balancing Overscreening and Underdiagnosis in Secondary Hypertension: The Case of Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Cardiol Clin. 2017 May;35(2):247-254. doi: 10.1016/j.ccl.2016.12.006.

Abstract

Knowledge about fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) has broadened over the last several decades. It is no longer considered a rare and benign entity limited to renal arteries and causing just hypertension. It affects other parts of the arterial tree nearly as frequently as the renal arteries. Complications of undiagnosed and untreated extrarenal FMD can be debilitating and life threatening. However, this disease, specifically extrarenal FMD, is not well known to many physicians and patients. Combined with the nonspecific symptoms and signs of the disease, this leads to delayed diagnosis and missed opportunity to prevent serious vascular complications.

Keywords: Fibromuscular dysplasia; Hypertension; Renal artery stenosis; Renovascular hypertension; Screening; Secondary hypertension.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Fibromuscular Dysplasia* / complications
  • Fibromuscular Dysplasia* / diagnosis
  • Fibromuscular Dysplasia* / epidemiology
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Renovascular* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Renovascular* / epidemiology
  • Hypertension, Renovascular* / etiology
  • Incidence
  • Mass Screening / standards*