Cluster differentiation-36 deficiency type 1 and acute coronary syndrome without major cardiovascular risk factors:...

A 45-year-old man without major coronary risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia, or a family history of early cardiovascular disease, presented with acute coronary syndrome. Angiography showed thrombus formation in segment 7 of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and percutaneous coronary intervention was successful after implantation of a bare metal stent. Scintigraphy showed the absence of 123I-beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid accumulation in the myocardium. Flow cytometric analysis of platelets and monocytes showed the absence of cluster differentiation (CD)-36 expression. These findings are consistent with a diagnosis of CD36 deficiency type 1, which might be associated with cardiovascular disease. The patient had no apparent major coronary risk factors except for insulin resistance and an abnormal lipoprotein profile. The findings suggest that in this case the CD36 deficiency type 1 was the pathogenic mechanism of acute coronary syndrome relative to insulin resistance and modification of the lipid profile.