Coronary embolism complicating aortic valve endocarditis: treatment with placement of an intracoronary stent

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J J Glazier1, J G McGinnity, J R Spears

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Clinical Cardiology
|October 23, 1997
PubMed

Insights

A patient with aortic valve endocarditis experienced myocardial infarction due to a sterile vegetation embolus. Successful treatment involved intracoronary stenting after balloon angioplasty failed to restore blood flow.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Aortic valve endocarditis is a serious infection that can lead to systemic complications.
  • Myocardial infarction (MI) in the context of endocarditis is uncommon but carries a high risk.

Observation:

  • A 37-year-old male with treated aortic valve endocarditis presented with acute anteroseptal ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
  • Coronary angiography revealed a mid-left anterior descending artery occlusion, suspected to be from a sterile vegetation embolus.

Findings:

  • Initial balloon angioplasty failed to restore patency of the occluded artery.
  • Intracoronary stent placement successfully achieved vessel patency, resolving the myocardial infarction.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a rare cause of myocardial infarction in endocarditis patients.
  • Intracoronary stenting can be an effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction caused by sterile vegetation emboli.

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