What complications can accompany the coarctation of the aorta?

Several: Aortic coarctation is associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). This can develop even years later, after successful surgical correction, due to a diffuse dysfunction of cells lining artery walls. This can also affect coronary arteries (causing atherosclerosis), and the adjacent (non-coarcted) aorta, with risk of aneurysm formation or dissection of the aorta wall.

Several: Coarctation of the aota can occur by itself or with other congenital problems of the heart or blood vessels. The most common would be abnormality of the aortic valve called bicuspid aortic valve.

Many: Coarctation can lead to decreased blood flow to the body in infants. It can present with organ damage and shock. But it can also present in adulthood, most commonly with hypertension. It can also cause leg/foot or abdominal pain.