External iliac endofibrosis in endurance athletes: a novel case in an endurance runner and a review of the literature

Background. There is increasing recognition that high-performance athletes can develop symptomatic arterial flow restriction in one or both (15%) legs due to kinking and/or endofibrosis of their iliac arteries. Methods. Case report and review based on a Medline search of the literature. Results. A 51-year-old female, 24-hour endurance runner presented with a six-month history of rapidly progressing intermittent claudication affecting her right thigh and calf in the absence of classical risk factors for atherosclerosis. On the basis of invasive and non-invasive investigations, a provisional diagnosis of endofibrosis was made and she was treated successfully with angioplasty. Conclusions. The epidemiology, optimal investigation and treatment of iliac endofibrosis in endurance athletes is poorly described. Each individual unit's experience is likely to be very small. A European register of such cases would increase our understanding of the condition and improve patient outcomes.