User:Mr. Ibrahem/Coarctation of the aorta

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA, CoAo) is a narrowing of the aorta, most commonly just beyond the exit of the left subclavian artery. While present at birth, onset of symptoms may not occur until 1 to 2 weeks after birth with trouble breathing or later in life with high blood pressure in the arms. Complications, without treatment, can include coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, heart failure, and cerebral vascular disease.

The cause is generally unclear. Risk factors include family history and Turner syndrome. The underlying mechanism is though to usually involve closure of the ductus arteriosus as it becomes the ligamentum arteriosum. Diagnosis is generally suspected based on checking the blood pressure in all four limbs and confirmed by echocardiography.

In newborns prostaglandin E1 may be used to temporize the condition. Surgery, either open or via a blood vessel, may than be carried out. Ongoing medications to manage blood pressure may be required. Following surgery there is a risk of reoccurrence.

About 4 per 10,000 newborns are affected. It accounts for around 6% of all heart disease present at birth. Males are affected twice as common as females. The condition was first described by Giovanni Battista Morgagni in 1760.