Fans of murder mysteries know that time is of the essence in solving the crime. If the detective can't start digging into the leads right away, the trail goes cold and a killer can go free. New Jersey attorneys with experience in medical malpractice know the same is true with diseases. An undiagnosed condition can lead to compounded health problems, injuries and even wrongful death of a loved one.

Doctors who specialize in the workings of the body's circulatory system have received a heads up about one particular disease that they should be watching for. It's called fibromuscular dysplasia. It's also known as renal artery stenosis, a condition in which the major arteries that supply blood to the kidneys narrow. But that moniker may be a little misleading.

According to research presented at a recent international symposium, the disease is considered rare. Yet, it is believed more than 5 million Americans, most of them women, are affected by it. Researchers say symptoms that can be associated with the disease include a whole array of common problems which can make it harder to make an accurate diagnosis. They include hypertension, headaches, ringing in the ears and dizziness.

They say some patients show no apparent symptoms at all. The weakness in kidney arteries and the carotid artery may only shows up through imaging or other methods.

Presenters at the symposium say they aren't sure what causes fibromuscular dysplasia. They indicate that's part of the reason they are going public with a registry of previous cases. They say there hasn't been any major new information about the disease in the past 30 years and they hopes the registry will elicit some clinical answers and improve treatments.

The scientists say accurate diagnosis is crucial because 20 percent of individuals with the disease have an aneurysm that could burst and kill them. They are urging doctors to look especially at individuals 35 and younger with high blood pressure and migraine-type headaches.

Source: Cardiology Today, "Artery disorder frequently undiagnosed in millions of women," Jan. 17, 2012