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Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Resulting in Acute Myocardial Infarction With Cardiac Rupture
Takamasa Tanaka1, Ling Li2,3, Stephanie A Dean2
1CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.
Insights
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) rarely causes cardiac rupture, especially in men. This case highlights SCAD as a cause of sudden cardiac death in a male patient without fibromuscular dysplasia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a leading cause of myocardial infarction in women.
- SCAD is frequently associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD).
Observation:
- A 54-year-old man presented with sudden cardiac death.
- Autopsy revealed cardiac rupture secondary to SCAD.
- The patient had no history or evidence of fibromuscular dysplasia.
Findings:
- This is a rare case of SCAD-induced cardiac rupture in a male patient.
- Cardiac rupture due to SCAD is an uncommon but fatal complication.
- Previous reports of SCAD-related cardiac rupture predominantly involved women.
Implications:
- SCAD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden cardiac death, even in men without FMD.
- Further research is needed to understand the risk factors and prevalence of SCAD in men.
- This case underscores the potential for severe cardiovascular events from SCAD beyond typical MI presentations.
Abstract:
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection occurs predominantly in women and is associated with fibromuscular dysplasia. We illustrate a rare case of sudden coronary death as a result of cardiac rupture from spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a 54-year-old man without fibromuscular dysplasia. Cardiac rupture has been previously reported in 6 cases, mostly in women.
