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Pericarditis as a trigger for Prinzmetal angina - a case report
Hossein Sheibani1, Mojgan Javedani Masroor2
1Clinical Research Development Unit, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahroud University of Medical Science, Shahroud, Iran.
Journal of Medicine and Life
|February 7, 2022
Summary
Prinzmetal angina, a cause of acute coronary syndromes, presented unusually in a young man with recurrent pericarditis. Vasodilator therapy resolved myocardial infarction symptoms, highlighting a potential link between pericarditis and coronary vasospasm.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Prinzmetal angina, a variant of angina pectoris, is a significant cause of acute coronary syndromes.
- The precise etiology of Prinzmetal angina remains largely unknown, necessitating further research into its underlying mechanisms.
Observation:
- A 27-year-old male with no prior cardiovascular history experienced recurrent acute pericarditis.
- The patient presented with chest pain, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes indicative of acute infero-posterior and right ventricular myocardial infarction (MI), and signs of pericarditis.
Findings:
- Vasodilator treatment alleviated compressive chest pain and reversed acute MI indicators on ECG.
- Recurrent pericarditis symptoms and ECG changes persisted despite resolution of MI indicators, suggesting a complex interplay of conditions.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential association between acute pericarditis and Prinzmetal angina, challenging typical diagnostic pathways.
- Effective management involved vasodilators for MI symptoms and NSAIDs/calcium channel blockers for pericarditis, indicating tailored therapeutic strategies may be required.
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