Anti-platelet and anti-hypertension medication use in patients with fibromuscular dysplasia: Results from the United States Registry for Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), a non-inflammatory arterial disease, may lead to renovascular hypertension (HTN) and cerebrovascular disease. Little is known about medication use in FMD. Clinical features and medication use were reviewed in a national FMD registry (12 US sites). Medication usage was assessed in raw and adjusted analyses. Covariates included demographic characteristics, co-morbid conditions and vascular bed involvement. A total of 874 subjects (93.6% female) were included in the analysis. Mean age was 55.6±13.1 years, 74.5% had HTN, 25.4% had a history of transient ischemic attack or stroke, and 7.5% had a history of coronary artery disease (CAD). Renal and cerebrovascular arteries were affected in 70.4% and 74.7%, respectively. Anti-platelet agents were administered to 72.9% of patients. In multivariate analyses, factors associated with a greater likelihood of anti-platelet agent use were older age (OR=1.02 per year, p=0.005), CAD (OR=3.76, p=0.015), cerebrovascular artery FMD involvement in isolation (OR=2.31, p<0.0001) or a history of previous intervention for FMD (OR=1.52, p=0.036). A greater number of anti-HTN medications was evident in isolated renal versus isolated cerebrovascular FMD patients. Factors associated with a greater number of anti-HTN medications were older age (OR=1.03 per year, p<0.0001), history of HTN (OR=24.04, p<0.0001), history of CAD (OR=2.71, p=0.0008) and a history of a previous therapeutic procedure (OR=1.72, p=0.001). In conclusion, in FMD, medication use varies based on vascular bed involvement. Isolated renal FMD patients receive more anti-HTN agents and there is greater anti-platelet agent use among patients with cerebrovascular FMD. Further studies correlating medication use in FMD with clinically meaningful patient outcomes are necessary.