Myocardial infarction in healthy adolescents

Chest pain in children and adolescents is a frequent cause for office or emergency department visits. However, it is unclear whether myocardial infarction occurs in children with no anatomic abnormality presenting with chest pain.

Clinical history, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac enzyme levels were evaluated in patients presenting to the emergency department over a period of 11 years (June 1995 to May 2006). Patients in whom findings were suggestive of acute myocardial infarction, in addition, underwent drug screening, serum lipid profile, and hypercoagulability workup and, when myocardial infarction was diagnosed, heart catheterization with coronary angiography.

Nine patients (8 boys; age range: 12-20 years; mean: 15.5 years) met established criteria for myocardial infarction. Abnormal electrocardiograms were found in 8 patients (6 with ST elevation and 2 with nonspecific ST-T abnormalities), abnormal cardiac enzyme levels in all, and echocardiographic abnormalities in 3. Cardiac dysrhythmias were found in 4 patients, 3 with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Drug abuse, lipid profile, and hypercoagulability studies were negative in all. Left ventricular focal hypokinesia was seen by echocardiogram or angiography in 5 patients and abnormal coronary anatomy in none. Cardiac function normalized in 8 patients. One patient had a persistent focal inferior hypokinesis. Calcium channel blocker therapy was initiated in all of the patients with no recurrence of anginal chest pain on follow-up. One patient complained of chest pain distinct from anginal pain.

Myocardial infarction can occur in adolescents with normal coronary arterial anatomy. Adolescents who present for emergency care with typical chest pain need electrocardiographic and cardiac enzyme workups. Those with results that are suggestive of acute infarction require additional workup. Coronary vasodilation therapy seems helpful, but given the lack of coronary thrombosis in these patients, thrombolytic therapy seems unwarranted. Long-term follow-up is necessary, and adjustments in therapy may be required with time.