Malignant hypertension as a serious complication of aortic coarctation diagnosed in advanced age

Overview

Aortic coarctation is a relatively rare but therapeutically amenable cause of secondary hypertension, occurring in 0.2–0.5 % of the adult population. The survival of elderly patients with untreated aortic coarctation is rather exceptional. Untreated aortic coarctation may lead to heart failure, endocarditis, aortic rupture, dissecting aortic aneurysm, or cerebral stroke. In advanced age surgical intervention does not have to reverse the course of hypertension.

In a 79-year old patient, the cause of malignant hypertension complicated by a cerebral arterial event and dehiscence of the retina was a severe aortic coarctation. Through early diagnostics of aortic coarctation, possible on physical examination, and by consistent treatment of the defect and correction of hypertension it is possible to prevent the development of serious organ complications of the ailment.

Key words:
aortic coarctation – secondary hypertension – elderly – diagnostics.