Acute myocardial infarction and anorexia nervosa

A case of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a patient with anorexia nervosa is presented.

Clinlcal records, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and coronary angiogram data of a patient with anorexia nervosa, presenting with AMI were evaluated. A Pubmed literature search was used to review cardiac complications of anorexia nervosa.

The patient presented with an anterior ST elevation AMI. She underwent emergent coronary angiography with successful reperfusion of a 100% occluded proximal left anterior descending coronary artery.

Anorexia nervosa is an eatlng disorder affectlng mainly female adolescents. Eating disorders carry the highest mortality rate compared to other psychiatric conditions (Caslero and Frishman, Cardiol Rev 14, 227-231, 2006). It is reported that 80% of patients with an eating disorder are affected by a cardiac complication. Sudden cardiac death secondary to arrhythmia is often the cause of death in these patlents (Caslero and Frishman, Cardiol Rev 14, 227-231, 2006). AMI is rarely described as a cardiac presentation in this patient population.