Aortic coarctation risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S.[2], Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S.[4]

Risk factors associated with an increased risk of coarctation include genetic anomalies, familial history, environmental factors, and neonatal care.

Like many congenital heart disease, the cause of aortic coarctation is not well defined. Clinical studies suggest that genetic and environmental factors both play an important role during pregnancy. These include:

• Genetic disorders, such as Turner syndrome. As many as 10-25% of patients with Turner syndrome have an accompanying coarctation of the aorta.
• Gender, more common in males than females (2:1 ratio).
• Viral infections during pregnancy.
• Presence of another congenital heart disease, such as:

• Ventricular septal defect
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Mitral valve stenosis
• Aortic valve stenosis
• Bicuspid aortic valve

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