Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, non-obstructive coronary arteries and severe regional microvascular
Thomas A Kite1, Benjamin A Marrow1, Sarah Nduwayo1
1Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Insights
Cardiac MRI with LGE accurately characterized myocardial infarction in MINOCA patients. This case highlights CMR
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Cardiology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) diagnosis requires precise characterization of myocardial injury.
- Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is crucial for evaluating MINOCA.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) can present with symptoms mimicking acute myocardial infarction.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old patient with DCM presented with acute myocardial infarction symptoms.
- Coronary angiography confirmed MINOCA diagnosis.
- CMR with LGE identified apical myocardial infarction.
Findings:
- Quantitative myocardial perfusion mapping revealed reduced blood flow in non-infarcted septal segments.
- The apical infarction's etiology is uncertain, possibly coronary plaque rupture.
- Severe regional microvascular dysfunction was observed, a recognized but under-described phenomenon in DCM.
Implications:
- CMR provides essential information in diagnostic uncertainty for MINOCA.
- Microvascular dysfunction in DCM may contribute to recurrent ischemic injury and disease progression.
- This case underscores the comprehensive diagnostic capabilities of CMR in complex cardiac scenarios.
Abstract:
Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is a key modality in providing localisation and characterisation of myocardial injury in patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). We present a case that demonstrates the unique ability of CMR to provide crucial information in instances of uncertainty. A 71-year-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) presented with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. The diagnosis of MINOCA was confirmed following coronary angiography. CMR imaging with LGE confirmed presence of apical infarction. Quantitative myocardial perfusion mapping demonstrated severely reduced blood flow in the non-infarcted septal segments proximal to the distal infarcted territory. The precise aetiology of apical infarction remains uncertain and is likely attributed to coronary plaque rupture. However, concomitant severe regional microvascular dysfunction is also appreciated. This is a recognised, but not well described, phenomenon in DCM and may contribute to repetitive ischaemic injury and disease progression.
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