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Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: case report and review of literature

Ankur Lodha1, Nina Mirsakov, Bilal Malik

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Cardiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA. ankurlodha@gmail.com

Southern Medical Journal
|February 11, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of heart attack in young women. This case highlights SCAD mimicking ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI), requiring intervention with coronary stents.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a significant cause of myocardial infarction (MI) predominantly affecting young, healthy females.
  • The diagnosis and management of SCAD present challenges due to its rarity and unclear etiology, with no established clinical guidelines.

Observation:

  • A young female presented with chest pain and ST elevations on ECG, indicative of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
  • Coronary angiography revealed a dissection in the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery.

Findings:

  • The patient successfully underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
  • Four paclitaxel-eluting coronary stents were deployed in the LAD to treat the dissection.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering SCAD in young women presenting with MI symptoms.
  • Further research into SCAD pathogenesis and standardized management protocols is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

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