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Refractory coronary vasospasm and recurrent cardiac arrest
Antoinette S Birs1, Douglas Darden2, Eric D Adler2
1Department of Cardiology, UC San Diego Health System, La Jolla, California, USA abirs@health.ucsd.edu.
BMJ Case Reports
|January 11, 2023
Summary
Recurrent vasospasm, an under-recognized cause of cardiac arrest, led to ventricular fibrillation in a young woman. Genetic testing revealed a desmoplakin (DSP) mutation, highlighting its importance in unexplained cardiac events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Refractory vasospasm is an under-recognized cause of chest pain and cardiac arrest.
- Genetic mutations can predispose individuals to cardiac conditions.
Observation:
- A young female patient experienced recurrent vasospasm leading to ventricular fibrillation.
- She was found to have a desmoplakin (DSP) gene mutation of unknown significance.
Findings:
- The patient required an implantable cardiac defibrillator and percutaneous coronary intervention for refractory vasospasm.
- A potential correlation between the DSP mutation and the patient's clinical presentation was observed.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering refractory vasospasm in unexplained cardiac arrest.
- Genetic testing may play a crucial role in diagnosing and managing patients with unexplained cardiac arrest.
- Further research into DSP mutations and their link to cardiac conditions is warranted.
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