A Case of Interrupted Aortic Arch in an Adult: An Unsuspected Cause of Uncontrolled Hypertension

TL;DR

A 28-year-old man with uncontrolled hypertension was found to have an interrupted aortic arch, a rare condition that can cause high blood pressure.

Contribution

This case highlights interrupted aortic arch as a rare but important cause of uncontrolled hypertension in adults.

Findings

Interrupted aortic arch was diagnosed in a 28-year-old with long-standing hypertension.

Chest radiography revealed inferior rib notching, leading to further imaging confirmation.

The case suggests IAA should be considered in adults with refractory hypertension.

Abstract

In this paper, we describe an incidentally discovered case of interrupted aortic arch in a 28-year-old male patient with a history of long-standing poorly controlled hypertension. The patient presented to the hospital with a complaint of upper respiratory complaints and long-standing chest pain. A plain chest radiograph was requested to exclude a diagnosis of pneumonia, and the radiography spotted an incidental finding of inferior rib notching. A subsequent CT angiography was done for further characterization, and a diagnosis of interrupted aortic arch was confirmed. Therefore, although rare, IAA should be considered in adults with refractory hypertension or unexplained congestive heart failure.

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