National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Fibromuscular dysplasia

Not a rare disease Not a rare disease
Other Names:
Fibromuscular dysplasia of arteries; FMD
Categories:
Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a condition characterized by abnormal development or growth of cells in the walls of blood vessels (arteries) that can cause the vessels to narrow. The carotid arteries, which pass through the neck and supply blood to the brain, are commonly affected. Arteries within the brain and kidneys can also be affected. Some people with FMD experience no symptoms of the disease while others may experience high blood pressure, dizziness or vertigo, chronic headache, ringing in the ears, weakness or numbness in the face, neck pain, or changes in vision. Potential severe complications include arterial aneurysms and dissections, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage (when a brain aneurysm ruptures), and mesenteric ischemia.[1][2][3] FMD is most often seen in people age 25 to 50 years and affects women more often than men.[1][2] The cause of FMD is unknown, however, genetic and hormonal factors may be involved.[4] Familial cases of FMD are rare.[3] Treatment is based on the arteries affected and the progression and severity of the disease.[1][2]
Last updated: 7/31/2018

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Aortic dissection
Tear in inner wall of large artery that carries blood away from heart
0002647
Arterial fibromuscular dysplasia 0005313
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Intermittent claudication 0004417
Myocardial infarction
Heart attack
0001658
Renovascular hypertension 0100817
Stroke 0001297
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
The cause of FMD is unknown. It is likely that there are many factors that contribute to the development of this condition. These factors may include blood vessel abnormalities, tobacco use, hormone levels, and genetic predispositions.[2]
Last updated: 8/9/2016

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • Orphanet lists European clinical trials, research studies, and patient registries enrolling people with this condition. 

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Social Networking Websites

  • RareConnect has an online community for patients and families with this condition so they can connect with others and share their experiences living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Fibromuscular dysplasia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Selected Full-Text Journal Articles

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • I have fibromuscular dysplasia in several of my arteries. My doctor says this condition is usually caused from smoking, but I have never smoked. What would cause this disease to occur in so many arteries? See answer

  • My husband is 38-years-old, and we just found out he has fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). He had a stroke 6 months ago. My question is, how long before he has another stroke? Can this take his life? See answer


  1. NINDS Fibromuscular Dysplasia Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Website. June 23, 2011; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/fibromuscular_dysplasia/fibromuscular_dysplasia.htm. Accessed 8/9/2016.
  2. Olin J. About FMD. In: Gornik H, Mace P. Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America. July 2011; http://www.fmdsa.org/fmd_info/what_is_fmd.
  3. Di Monaco S, Georges A, Lengelé JP, Vikkula M, Persu A. Genomics of Fibromuscular Dysplasia. Int J Mol Sci. May 21, 2018; 19(5):https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5983654/.
  4. Pr Xavier JEUNEMAITRE, Pr Pierre-François PLOUIN. Fibromuscular dysplasia of arteries. Orphanet. December 2014; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=en&Expert=336.