scholarly journals Spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the proximal left circumflex artery: a case report

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Pineda ◽  
Josh Martin ◽  
Aniket Puri ◽  
Bijan Jahangiri

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has gained attention as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death (SCD) among women. Management strategies of SCAD differ from those of atherosclerotic disease. There is an elevated risk of complications and suboptimal outcomes in patients with SCAD undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Case summary A 48-year-old woman without any traditional cardiovascular risk factors was admitted with severe central chest pain with associated dyspnoea and diaphoresis. The patient had a strong family history of SCD, affecting three female members in their 40s and 50s. Cardiac troponins were elevated. Coronary angiogram showed moderate to severe stenosis of the proximal circumflex coronary artery. Optical coherence tomography confirmed SCAD with sub-intimal haematoma. Despite significant stenosis in the proximal segment of a relatively large artery, a decision was made not to proceed with PCI. The follow-up angiogram demonstrated normal coronaries. Magnetic resonance imaging of renal arteries showed features suggestive of fibromuscular dysplasia affecting the right renal artery. Subsequent genetic counselling and gene testing were unremarkable. Discussion Conservative management of SCAD is recommended because the large majority of SCAD lesions heal naturally, whereas PCI is associated with increased risk of complications and adverse outcomes. Whether SCAD is associated with the sudden death events in our patient’s family remains unclear. It certainly raises concerns as to an inheritable condition. In the absence of post-mortem findings in her family members, we can only speculate about this representing a possible inheritable form of SCAD.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Hassan Lak ◽  
Karim Abdul Rehman ◽  
Wael A Jaber ◽  
Leslie Cho

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a frequently underdiagnosed entity that carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is increasingly recognized as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and, the majority of SCAD patients are young healthy women. Case summary A 23-year-old female G5P4 presented to the emergency room for severe sub-sternal chest pain, associated with shortness of breath. Past medical history was significant for pre-eclampsia. Initial electrocardiogram was remarkable for ST depressions in V5–V6 with inverted T waves to V1–V2. Troponin I was elevated to 1.13 ng/mL. Two-dimensional echo showed reduced left ventricular function with an ejection fraction of 40%. Cardiac catheterization showed triple vessel dissection involving the left main trunk extending into mid-left anterior descending and dissection extending from ostium of left circumflex artery into large first obtuse marginal branch. She was started on aspirin and heparin. After 48 h she was loaded with clopidogrel. Computed tomography angiography of head, neck, abdomen, and pelvis showed findings compatible with fibromuscular dysplasia. She was haemodynamically stable and symptom free and did not want surgery. She was recommended to continue dual antiplatelet therapy for 12 months and subsequently aspirin and beta blocker only lifelong. Discussion Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare condition which is underdiagnosed. A thorough history and high degree of suspicion is required to diagnose in a timely manner and it should be high on differential in a postpartum female presenting with signs and symptoms of ACS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshad Tahmasebi ◽  
Alice Hurrell ◽  
Amie Ford ◽  
Manish Gupta ◽  
Damien Geindreau ◽  
...  

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare but important cause of acute coronary syndrome. Its relevance for women during the puerperium mandates awareness and understanding amongst obstetric healthcare professionals. The aetiology of the increased risk in pregnancy has not been fully elucidated, but include medial eosinophilic angitis, pregnancy-induced degeneration of collagen in conjunction with the stresses of parturition, and rupture of the vasa vasorum. The risk of mortality necessitates prompt diagnosis, usually by angiography. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment; management must be individualised according to haemodynamic status and affected vessel(s) and includes conservative management, percutaneous coronary intervention, or bypass grafting. Recovery complications include extension of the haematoma or false lumen, valvular pathology secondary to ischaemia, and sudden cardiac death. Close post-operative surveillance is mandatory. We present a 41-year-old lady with post-partum spontaneous coronary artery dissection, complicated by ischaemic papillary rupture and mitral regurgitation requiring valve replacement. Additionally, we present a literature review, including guidance on management and critical analysis of potential complications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Roxana-Daiana Lazar ◽  
Abigaela Rus ◽  
Cosmin Tolescu ◽  
Renata Gerculy ◽  
Diana Opincariu ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) represents a very rare and poorly understood condition that is gaining recognition as an important cause of myocardial infarction, especially among young women. The pathogenesis of SCAD is not well established yet, but several theories have been proposed. Case presentation: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman without any history of cardiovascular disease who presented with acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to the luminal obstruction generated by an intramural hematoma from a SCAD of the left main coronary artery, which was successfully treated by coronary artery stenting. Additionally, the patient presented anomalies of coronary origins (ACO) with separate emergences of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery from the left coronary cusp and the left circumflex artery (LCX) from the right coronary cusp, with no apparent clinical significance. Conclusion: SCAD should always be included in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with STEMI. In case of prompt diagnosis, SCAD-STEMI patients are successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Moreover, it is of vital importance to identify variants of ACO, even without clinical relevance at the moment of the acute event, in order to initiate an appropriate management, since ACO increases the risk of routine PCI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghaitha Al Mahruqi ◽  
Hilal Alsabti ◽  
Mirdavron Mukaddirov

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as one of the important yet rare causes of acute coronary syndrome that primarily affect young peripartum women without cardiovascular risk factors. Despite the recent improvements in diagnosis and recognition of the importance of SCAD, it remains poorly studied and there has been no consensus of opinion regarding its optimal management. Case summary A 29-year-old breastfeeding woman presented with 1-day history of severe chest pain radiating to the jaw and both shoulders. Cardiovascular examination, 12 leads electrocardiogram, and echocardiography were normal. Troponin levels were elevated; hence, coronary angiogram was done and showed type 2 SCAD of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The patient was managed conservatively. The next day, she started again to complain of severe chest pain and her troponin levels continued to rise. Repeated coronary angiogram revealed progression of the previous LAD dissection. Another dissection was also noticed in the left circumflex artery. Chest pain recurred over the night and her troponin levels continued to rise. An emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed. The patient was doing well postoperatively and was discharged home on Day 8. Discussion Our patient presented with acute ischaemic changes secondary to SCAD. The report illustrates the risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnostic work up, and the possible therapeutic options of SCAD, which include conservative management and CABG. The management varies depending on the clinical presentation and the extent of the coronary artery dissection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e240022
Author(s):  
Zia Saleh ◽  
Susan Koshy ◽  
Vaninder Sidhu ◽  
Andrea Opgenorth ◽  
Janek Senaratne

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but increasingly recognised cause of acute coronary syndrome. While numerous risk factors are associated with SCAD, one potential cause is coronary artery vasospasm. The use of cabergoline—an ergot derivative and dopamine agonist that may induce vasospasm—has been associated with SCAD in one other case report worldwide. Here, we describe SCAD in a 37-year-old woman on long-term cabergoline therapy with no other cardiac risk factors. Cabergoline-induced SCAD should be considered in patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome who are treated with this medication.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-109
Author(s):  
Nader Makki ◽  
Poorvi Dalal ◽  
Quinn Capers ◽  
Ernest Mazzaferri ◽  
Talal Attar

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome, is due to nonatherosclerotic coronary events and is probably underrecognized as a cause of myocardial infarction. The condition typically affects premenopausal women who are otherwise healthy. Among more than 1,200 reported cases, recurrent dissection has been described 63 times, and only 3 reports have documented multiple episodes of dissection involving different vascular territories. We present the case of a woman in her 30s who, over a 9-year period, presented 4 times with coronary dissection in different vascular territories. She was first treated conservatively, then with stents, and ultimately by means of coronary artery bypass grafting. In addition to this case, we discuss this rare condition and its management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (FI1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remo Albiero ◽  
Giuseppe Seresini

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) may be atherosclerotic (A-SCAD) or non-atherosclerotic (NA-SCAD) in origin. Contemporary usage of the term ‘SCAD’ is typically synonymous with NA-SCAD. COVID-19 could induce a vascular inflammation localized in the coronary adventitia and periadventitial fat and contribute to the development of an A-SCAD of a vulnerable plaque in a susceptible patient. Case summary In this report we describe a case of a COVID-19 patient with past cardiac history of CAD who was admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Coronary angiography demonstrated the culprit lesion in the proximal LAD that presented with a very complex and unusual morphology, indicative of an A-SCAD. The diagnosis of A-SCAD was supported by the presence of a mild stenosis in the same coronary segment in the last angiogram performed 3 years previously. He was successfully treated by PCI, had a favourable course of the COVID-19 with no symptoms of pneumonia, and was discharged from the hospital after two negative tests for SARS-CoV-2. Discussion A higher index of suspicion of A-SCAD is needed in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 presenting with ACS. The proposed approach with ‘thrombolysis first’ for treating STEMI patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection could be unsafe in the case of underlying A-SCAD.


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