ALCAPA in adult asymptomatic patient: A case report

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart disease that usually presents with heart failure symptoms in infants. Without surgical correction, the condition has a high infant mortality rate. However, patients with ALCAPA can remain asymptomatic for decades in some cases, and the risk of sudden death decreases in adulthood.

We present the case of a 52-year-old female who was incidentally diagnosed with ALCAPA during a routine medical evaluation. As the patient age, was asymptomatic, had good coronary collateral circulation, a medical treatment strategy was chosen and the patient was discharged in a good physical condition. And during the three-month follow-up, no cardiovascular complications were observed.

The appearance and severity of symptoms in patients with ALCAPA can vary depending on factors such as the closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), pressure gradient between arteries, collateral development, and coronary anatomy. Surgical intervention is typically recommended, but in select cases such us, conservative management may be considered for elderly patients due to increased surgical risks and potentially lower risk of sudden cardiac death. Individualized patient assessment is crucial in determining the optimal treatment strategy for ALCAPA, considering the available evidence and limitations.

The management of asymptomatic patients with ALCAPA remains a subject of discussion, and further research is needed to standardize the clinical approach for this subgroup of patients and to compare survival rates between surgical correction and medical therapy.