BACKGROUND: Subclavian stenosis is an uncommon clinical condition associated with severe cardiovascular complications, usually presenting with claudication and subclavian steal syndrome. Here we describe the rare case of bilateral subclavian artery stenosis in an asymptomatic patient.

CASE REPORT: Our patient was a 63-year-old chronic smoker with no prior medical history whose chief complaint was dyspnea from an exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was hypotensive with blood pressure 74/56 mmHg at admission, which raised suspicion for sepsis, adrenal insufficiency but the workup (renal panel, full blood count and synacthen tests) were normal. He quickly recovered after we treated his COPD exacerbation, but his hypotension persisted despite repeated fluid challenges. To evaluate for structural causes of his hypotension, we performed a full cardiovascular examination with 4 limb blood pressure measurements and found upper limb hypotension and lower limb hypertension. Subsequent imaging with ultrasound and computed tomography confirmed the presence of bilateral subclavian artery stenosis. Our diagnosis was thus bilateral subclavian artery stenosis secondary to atherosclerosis from chronic smoking. The patient was subsequently referred to vascular surgery for consideration of surgical revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral subclavian stenosis is extremely rare and requires a high index of clinical suspicion. Early diagnosis is important in the primary prevention of associated cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: atherosclerosis, Hypotension, Subclavian Steal Syndrome, Asymptomatic Diseases, computed tomography angiography, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, smokers, Subclavian Artery, Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex, Vertebral Artery