The authors report the case of a 44 year-old female patient with no particular history who presented with a suddenly occurring severe ischemia of the lower limbs during exercise which revealed a total thrombosis of the subrenal abdominal aorta. Angiography confirmed the diagnosis and demonstrated a partial compensation of the lesion by an important collateral network developed from the parietal and mesenteric arteries. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography showed an extensive coarctation of the abdominal aorta. The main visceral (particularly renal) arterial branches were not involved. The pathologic subrenal aortic segment was surgically resected, and a prosthetic aortobifemoral bypass provided. The further course was marked by several occlusions of the low anastomoses by fibrous hyperplasia. Coarctation of the abdominal aorta is briefly reviewed. This disorder is infrequent, and its infrarenal form can be compatible with a normal life. It can be revealed late, particularly when a thrombotic complication occurs.