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Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of the aorta between the upper-body artery branches and the branches to the lower body. It's relatively common, accounting for 5 percent to 10 percent of all congenital heart conditions, and often occurs along with other heart defects. This blockage can increase blood pressure in your arms and head, reduce pressure in your legs and seriously strain your heart. Aortic valve abnormalities often accompany coarctation. Coarctation occurs most commonly in a short segment of the aorta just beyond where the arteries to the head and arms take off, as the aorta arches inferiorly toward the abdomen and legs. Coarctation of the aorta may range from mild to severe. The aorta carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the body with blood and nutrients. If part of the aorta is narrowed, it is hard for blood to pass through the artery. People with this condition often have high blood pressure in the upper body and arms (or one arm) and low blood pressure in the lower body and legs.

A coarctation can occur anywhere in the aorta, but it is most often found just beyond the point where the aorta sends a branch off to supply the left arm. In babies with coarctation, the aortic arch may be small (hypoplastic). Coarctation may also occur along with other cardiac defects, typically involving the left side of the heart. The defects most commonly seen with coarctation are bicuspid aortic valve and ventricular septal defect. Aortic coarctation occurs in approximately 1 out of 10,000 people. It is usually diagnosed in children or adults under age 40. Symptoms depend on how much blood can flow through the artery. In severe cases, symptoms are seen when the baby is very young. Coarctation of the aorta usually requires treatment, and there are a number of options to repair the constriction. While treatment for coarctation of the aorta is usually successful, it's a condition that requires careful follow-up through infancy and into adulthood.

Causes of Coarctation of the aorta

The main causes of Coarctation of the aorta:

• Improper development of the aorta in the first eight weeks of fetal growth.
• Genetic disorders, such as Turner's syndrome.
• Birth defects of the aortic valve, such as a bicuspid aortic valve.

Signs and symptoms of Coarctation of the aorta

Signs and symptoms often experienced with Coarctation of the aorta are:

• Muscle weakness.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Chest pain.
• Leg cramps with exercise.
• Pounding headache.
• Nosebleeds.

Treatment of Coarctation of the aorta

Some most common treatmet of Coarctation of the aorta:

• Babies with severe coarctation of the aorta may receive a drug called prostaglandin E. This drug helps keeps the ductus arteriosis open, providing a bypass for blood flow around the constriction, until the coarctation is repaired.
• Surgery is usually recommended.
• If the problem area was small, the two free ends of the aorta may be re-connected. This is called anastomosis.
• If a large part of the aorta was removed, a Dacron graft (a synthetic material) is used to fill the gap.