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Bilateral origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery in a young man
D B Nudel1, E Weinhouse, N Gootman
1Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York.
Insights
Sudden cardiac death in young athletes may be linked to coronary artery anomalies. A rare case of bilateral left anterior descending coronary arteries was found in an 18-year-old with chest pain.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Coronary artery anomalies originating from the aorta are a known risk factor for sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
- Early identification and understanding of these anomalies are crucial for preventing exertional syncope and mortality.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old athlete presented with nonspecific chest pain.
- Ventricular couplets were observed during the recovery phase of a stress test.
Findings:
- Coronary angiography revealed a previously unreported anomaly: bilateral left anterior descending coronary arteries.
- This anatomical variation represents a unique presentation of congenital coronary artery abnormality.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering rare coronary artery anomalies in young athletes presenting with cardiac symptoms.
- Further research into the clinical significance and management of bilateral LAD arteries is warranted.
- Enhanced screening protocols may be necessary to detect such abnormalities and mitigate risks.
Abstract:
Abnormalities of coronary artery origin from the aorta have been implicated in sudden death in sports among young athletes. We describe an 18-year-old patient who presented with nonspecific chest pain, developed ventricular couplets during recovery from a stress test, and whose coronary angiograms revealed bilateral left anterior descending coronary arteries, an abnormality that has not been previously reported.