Coarctation of aorta presenting as acute haemorrhagic stroke in a 14-year old. A case report.

Correspondence: E. Kiguli-Malwadde Makerere University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Mulago Hospital P.O.Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda Email [email protected] Introduction Coarctation of the aorta is a relatively common defect. It may occur as an isolated defect or in association with a variety of other lesions, most commonly bicuspid aortic valve. The diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta may be missed unless a high index of suspicion is maintained, and diagnosis often is delayed until the patient develops congestive heart failure, which is frequent in infants, or hypertension, which is frequent in older children. This adolescent presented for the very first time with acute haemorrhagic stroke due to severe hypertension secondary to Coarctation of the aorta. A chest x-ray showed features of left ventricular enlargement and coarctation of aorta.