Polyarteritis nodosa presenting as acute myocardial infarction with coronary dissection

Shifting perspectives in coronary involvement of polyarteritis nodosa: case of 3-vessel occlusion treated with 4-vessel CABG and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis (SV) historically thought to spare the coronary arteries. Coronary angiography and contemporary imaging reveal coronary stenosis and dilation, which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Coronary arteries in PAN are burdened with accelerated atherosclerosis from generalized inflammation adding to an inherent arteritic process. Traditional atherosclerotic risk factors fail to approximate risk. Few reports document coronary pathology and optimal therapy has been guarded.

METHODS

Database publication query of English literature from 1990-2022.

RESULTS

Severity of coronary involvement eludes laboratory monitoring, but coronary disease associates with several clinical symptoms. Framingham risk factors inadequately approximate disease burden. Separating atherosclerosis from arteritis requires advanced angiographic methods. Therapy includes anticoagulation, immunosuppression and revascularization. PCI has been the mainstay, though stenting is confounded by vagarious alteration in luminal diameter and reports of neointimization soon after placement.

CONCLUSIONS

When graft selection avoids the vascular territory of SV's, CABG offers definitive therapy. We have contributed report of a novel CABG configuration in addition to reviewing, updating and discussing the literature. Accumulating evidence suggests discrete clinical symptoms warrant suspicion for coronary involvement.

What Is New in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection?

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a condition that leads to tearing of the coronary vessel wall in the absence of trauma, iatrogenic injury, or atherosclerosis. SCAD is an important cause of myocardial infarction in young women, leading to significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Within cohorts of women aged around 50 years on average, who experience acute coronary syndrome, the prevalence of SCAD is 22.5%- 35%. Over the past decade, SCAD research has expanded rapidly, leading to improved understanding of this condition. In this review, we provide a summary of the current body of knowledge, highlight areas of ongoing research, and identify existing knowledge gaps. Specifically, we provide a focused update on the pathogenesis of SCAD, including genetic and associated conditions, clinical presentation and diagnosis, prognosis, and short-term and long-term management. Highlighted areas include the following: insights from recent genome-wide association studies; intracoronary imaging for the diagnosis of SCAD; the role of cardiac computed tomography angiography to assess for vessel healing; revascularization strategies and challenges; cardiogenic shock in SCAD; and the increasingly recognized burden of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder among SCAD patients.

Exploring Cardiovascular Manifestations in Vasculitides: An In-Depth Review

Systemic vasculitides encompass a cluster of autoimmune diseases that affect blood vessels, and are characterized by immune-mediated injury to either small- or large-sized blood vessels. Individuals afflicted with systemic vasculitides experience notable morbidity and mortality attributable to cardiovascular manifestations. Noteworthy among these are ischemic heart disease, venous thromboembolism, aortic involvement, valvular irregularities, myocarditis, and pericarditis. This narrative review investigated and evaluated the prevalent cardiovascular disturbances commonly associated with different types of vasculitides. This review also discusses the mechanisms that underlie these manifestations. It also provides a thorough explanation of the many diagnostic techniques essential for detecting the disease at its occult stage. It is essential for healthcare professionals to have knowledge of the cardiovascular complications caused by vasculitides, as this enables them to promptly recognize these symptoms and employ suitable diagnostic techniques early on. By doing so, timely detection can be ensured, which will subsequently aid in initiating appropriate treatment strategies that are vital for decreasing morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic vasculitides.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an underdiagnosed entity. It has been recognized as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden death, particularly among young women and individuals with few conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. This document provides an exhaustive review of the pathophysiology and etiology of this disease. In addition, we describe the main clinical characteristics of these patients, the diagnostic tests that must be performed, and the most appropriate treatment.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an underdiagnosed entity. It has been recognized as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden death, particularly among young women and individuals with few conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. This document provides an exhaustive review of the pathophysiology and etiology of this disease. In addition, we describe the main clinical characteristics of these patients, the diagnostic tests that must be performed, and the most appropriate treatment.

Insidious coronary artery disease in a young patient with polyarteritis nodosa: a case report and literature review

Background

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a relatively rare systemic necrotizing vasculitis that typically affects medium-sized arteries. Although myocardial ischemia may occur due to involvement of the coronary arteries, overt myocardial infarction is uncommon.

Case presentation

A 22-year-old Chinese man experiencing chest pain for 7 months was admitted to our hospital. Consistently, the pain tended to last for a few minutes and then spontaneously subside. He had 7-year history of “stable” PAN. Coronary angiography revealed slight plaque infiltration of the left main coronary artery; however occlusion of all the three major coronary arteries with multiple aneurysms. A stent was implanted into the obtuse margin branch artery which was 95% stenosis, and then the chest pain was alleviated. Considering that the occlusion of coronary arteries was due to insidious vasculitis, prednisone 50 mg/day and methotrexate 15 mg/week were reinitiated, in combination with anti-angina medications.

Conclusions

We report a young patient with insidious occlusion of three main coronary arteries under the circumstance of stable PAN for 7 years, suggesting the necessity of assessing the heart, in spite of normal acute phase reactants. The appropriate screening strategy needs to be studied.

Lack of Association of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection With Autoimmune Disease

BACKGROUND

Case reports and referral-based studies suggest spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is associated with autoimmune diseases and causes 2% to 4% of acute coronary syndromes.

OBJECTIVES

This study determined the association of SCAD with autoimmune diseases, together with incidence and recurrence, in a population-based study.

METHODS

This case-control study took place from 1995 to 2018 within the Rochester Epidemiology Project. The study identified cases with SCAD from diagnosis codes and verified them using coronary angiography images, matching each case to 3 control subjects on age, sex, county, and years of medical history. Autoimmune disease history came from a validated, code-based definition. A multivariable logistic regression model calculated the odds ratio (OR) for SCAD among patients with a history of autoimmune disease, adjusting for race and body mass index.

RESULTS

The study identified 114 cases with SCAD (mean age 51 years and 90% women) and 342 matched control subjects. Autoimmune disease occurred in 13 (11%) cases with SCAD and 40 (12%) control subjects (p = 0.93). Even after adjustment, autoimmune diseases were not associated with SCAD (OR: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40 to 1.66). SCAD incidence between 2010 and 2018 (2.7 per 100,000; 95% CI: 1.7 to 3.7) was 10-fold higher than the incidence between 1995 and 2009 (0.3 per 100,000; 95% CI: 0.0 to 0.6). SCAD recurrence was 10% (95% CI: 3% to 16%) at 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested SCAD pathogenesis is noninflammatory and screening for autoimmune diseases based on SCAD alone is not warranted. The code-based incidence of SCAD has increased over time, highlighting the importance of considering SCAD among patients with acute coronary syndromes.

CT and MR Imaging of Cardiothoracic Vasculitis

The term vasculitis includes a variable group of entities in which the common characteristic is inflammation of the walls of blood vessels occurring at some time during the course of the disease. The vasculitides can be divided into primary and secondary vasculitides, depending on the etiology and according to the size of the vessel affected. Both primary vasculitis and secondary vasculitis are associated with cardiac morbidity that is often subclinical. Cardiac involvement is associated with prognostic implications and higher rates of related mortality. Vasculitis of cardiac structures and the assessment of disease extent are important for appropriate management and selection of treatment. Although echocardiography, radionuclide imaging, and catheter-directed coronary angiography remain the cornerstones of cardiac imaging, cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can offer a 360° assessment of cardiac anatomy, function, and complications secondary to vasculitis. Postoperative complications, which are more frequent in patients with active disease, can also be depicted with those imaging modalities. A multidisciplinary approach is important to yield an appropriate estimate of the disease activity and extent and, therefore, to enable better treatment selection and monitoring. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2018.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Current State of the Science: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, and sudden death, particularly among young women and individuals with few conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. Patient-initiated research has spurred increased awareness of SCAD, and improved diagnostic capabilities and findings from large case series have led to changes in approaches to initial and long-term management and increasing evidence that SCAD not only is more common than previously believed but also must be evaluated and treated differently from atherosclerotic myocardial infarction. High rates of recurrent SCAD; its association with female sex, pregnancy, and physical and emotional stress triggers; and concurrent systemic arteriopathies, particularly fibromuscular dysplasia, highlight the differences in clinical characteristics of SCAD compared with atherosclerotic disease. Recent insights into the causes of, clinical course of, treatment options for, outcomes of, and associated conditions of SCAD and the many persistent knowledge gaps are presented.

Sudden Death from Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection due to Polyarteritis Nodosa

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an emerging and rare cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. While it was previously reported among young females with fibromuscular dysplasia, new literature indicates that this condition could occur in older populations. Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) causes systemic necrotizing vasculitis which typically affects small to medium-sized muscular arteries and could affect the coronary arteries. A few case reports of PAN causing acute coronary artery disease have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 62-year-old lady who presented with abdominal pain and died abruptly during her stay; she was found to have PAN-associated SCAD on autopsy.

Clinically Apparent Arterial Thrombosis in Persons with Systemic Vasculitis

Objective

To estimate the incidence rate of clinically apparent arterial thrombotic events and associated comorbidities in patients with primary systemic vasculitis.

Methods

Using large cohort administrative data from Quebec, Canada, we identified patients with vasculitis, including polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Incident acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) after the diagnosis of vasculitis were ascertained in the PAN and GPA group via billing and hospitalization data. These were compared to rates of a general population comparator group. The incidences of comorbidities (type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) were also collected.

Results

Among the 626 patients identified with vasculitis, 19.7% had PAN, 2.9% had Kawasaki disease, 23.8% had GPA, 52.4% had GCA, and 1.3% had Takayasu arteritis. The AMI rate was substantially higher in males aged 18–44 with PAN, with rates up to 268.1 events per 10,000 patient years [95% CI 67.1–1070.2], approximately 30 times that in the age- and sex-matched control group. The CVA rate was also substantially higher, particularly in adults aged 45–65. Patients with vasculitis had elevated incidences of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension versus the general population.

Conclusion

Atherothrombotic rates were elevated in patients identified as having primary systemic vasculitis. While incident rates of cardiovascular comorbidities were also increased, the substantial elevation in AMIs seen in young adults suggests a disease-specific component which requires further investigation.

Pregnancy-Related Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: A Case Series and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Cardiac emergencies during pregnancy are rare but have significant associated morbidity and mortality when they do occur. The emergency physician must not only be aware of potentially life-threatening conditions in the pregnant woman, but also know the emergent management and treatment of these conditions to avoid worsening of the underlying condition. Pregnancy-related spontaneous coronary artery dissection has been described in the cardiology literature, but is not well-known in emergency medicine literature.

CASE SERIES

We present a case series of six previously healthy women ages 27 to 39 years who presented 1 to 75 days after delivery with spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The left main coronary was involved in 5 of 6 cases. One patient died, 5 survived. Two survivors maintained significant long-term disability. The patient that died had the diagnosis made on autopsy, the others were diagnosed with coronary angiography. Two patients were treated with stents, 2 with coronary artery bypass surgery, and 2 with medical management. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergent coronary catheterization is indicated if this diagnosis is suspected. However, emergency care teams must also understand how and why management including coronary artery catheterization can exacerbate the underlying condition. The role of coronary artery computed tomography remains unknown, although it exposes the fetus to significant radiation if the woman is still pregnant at presentation. Medical management is indicated with diffuse or distal disease as pregnancy-related coronary artery dissections often resolve with time. Localized discrete lesions may be stented. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery may be considered if the left main artery is involved or there are multiple proximal lesions. Cardiac transplantation is indicated rarely.

Heavy Lifting Causing Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection with Anterior Myocardial Infarction in a 54-Year-Old Woman

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in association with strenuous exercise and weightlifting is rather sparsely described in the medical literature. Diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition is a challenge, but prompt recognition and appropriate early choice of angioplasty or surgery can lead to a good outcome. We report the case of a postmenopausal 54-year-old woman who presented with anterior myocardial infarction caused by spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending coronary artery after she had lifted a heavy weight while gardening. The patient was treated successfully by means of angioplasty and the implantation of 3 drug-eluting stents. In addition to presenting the patient's case, we review the topical medical literature.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a patient with bacterial meningitis

A 40-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of the acute onset of fever and headache, which were attributed to bacterial meningitis. Antibiotic treatment was initiated and his condition gradually improved. On day 5 after admission, immediately after masturbation, he developed abrupt onset of severe chest pain and cold sweat and the ECG suggested acute anterior myocardial infarction. Immediate coronary angiography revealed spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending artery. After conservative management, his cardiac function improved. Acute coronary syndrome may be rarely caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Sepsis was considered as a probable trigger for spontaneous coronary artery dissection, possibly through vascular damage from increased nitric oxide and sympathetic nervous over-activation.

Acute Coronary Syndrome in Pre- and Post-partum Women - A Review

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during pregnancy and the post-partum period are weighed by a high mortality rate for the mother and foetus. They should be considered as multifactorial diseases with a special role for sexual hormones. In this setting, ACS is mostly related to an early atherosclerotic disease, even if other conditions are responsible. Indeed, an important part is due to spontaneous coronary artery dissection, more common during delivery and the post-partum period. In the remaining situation, an isolated intracoronary thrombus or a normal angiographic pattern can be found at angiography. Pathophysiology is still uncertain with different hypothetical mechanisms. Prompt diagnosis of ACS and aetiology are essential for an optimal therapeutic strategy. Difficulties in treatment management is a matter for debate, especially in pre-partum women. In the last two decades improvements of diagnostic tools, coronary angiography and subsequent percutaneous treatment have changed the natural history of this rare condition.

Cardiac arrest in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare necrotizing vasculitis that occurs in small- to medium-sized muscular arteries. A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for an evaluation of a sustained fever and he later died of cardiac arrest. The autopsy revealed that the patient had PAN and severe coronary vasculitis with no signs of cardiac ischemia. The reason for the patient's sudden death remains unclear; however, cardiac arrest due to coronary vasculitis was suggested. This is a rare case of PAN coronary vasculitis that led to sudden death without either stenosis or any embolism.

Acute inferior myocardial infarction in a young female patient with polyarteritis nodosa

Coronary involvement of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) has been mostly identified in postmortem studies. We report a case with inferior myocardial infarction (MI) because of coronary dissection and thrombosis in PAN. A 23-year-old woman with chest pain was admitted to the emergency department. The admission ECG was suggestive of inferior MI with no right ventricular infarction. Coronary angiography revealed an occluded right coronary artery because of coronary dissection and concomitant thrombosis. Coronary angioplasty and stent implantation were performed successfully without complications. This report emphasizes the importance of PAN in spontaneous coronary dissection and thrombosis even in young patients.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: case report and review of literature

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an unusual cause of acute coronary syndrome or sudden cardiac death. SCAD has most frequently been described as presenting as an acute coronary syndrome in females during the peripartum period. It may also be associated with autoimmune and collagen vascular diseases, Marfan's syndrome, chest trauma, and intense physical exercise. The most common presentation of SCAD is the acute onset of severe chest pain associated with autonomic symptoms. This condition has a high mortality rate if not identified and treated promptly. Here, we present a case of SCAD presenting with stroke, followed by a brief review.

Polyarteritis nodosa complicated by chronic total occlusion accompanying aneurysms on all coronary arteries

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is characterized by inflammatory necrosis of medium sized arteries. PAN can also be associated with stenosis or aneurysm of the coronary artery. However, the involvement of PAN at a coronary artery is usually asymptomatic, which makes it difficult to diagnose. In addition, all of the three main coronary arteries involved with chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a rare finding in patients with PAN. We report a patient that presented with PAN complicated by CTO and aneurysms of three main coronary arteries, without typical symptoms of angina.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissections: Three Case Reports and Review of Literature

Primary spontaneous coronary artery dissection is one of the rare causes of acute myocardial infarction and is mostly fatal. Previous studies report that it is mostly seen in middle-aged women in the last trimester of pregnancy and early postpartum period. Clinical presentation of the disease is variable in pattern, and its severity is related to extent and development rate of dissection. Herein we present three cases of primary spontaneous left main coronary artery dissection. Two of the patients are men and the third patient is a non-pregnant 69-year-old woman. The cases were presented and discussed with review of the pertinent literature.

Premenopausal woman with acute myocardial infarction caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection and potential association with coronary vasospasm

A 45-year-old premenopausal woman presented with acute myocardial infarction (MI). An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed that her distal right coronary artery was occluded by spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). She did not have any specific condition related to SCAD. At follow-up cardiac catheterization, an acetylcholine provocation test was applied to examine the etiology of SCAD, and definitive coronary vasospasm was induced with chest symptoms and significant electrocardiographic change. A Ca-channel blocker was administered and since then chest pain has subsequently so far been relieved. The current case suggests the significance of the IVUS in detecting etiology of MI in younger patients and the potential association between SCAD and coronary vasospasm.

Giant coronary artery aneurysms in juvenile polyarteritis nodosa: a case report

Juvenile polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare, necrotizing vasculitis, primarily affecting small to medium-sized muscular arteries. Cardiac involvement amongst patients with PAN is uncommon and reports of coronary artery aneurysms in juvenile PAN are exceedingly rare. We describe a 16 year old girl who presented with fever, arthritis and two giant coronary artery aneurysms, initially diagnosed as atypical Kawasaki disease and treated with IVIG and methylprednisolone. Her persistent fevers, arthritis, myalgias were refractory to treatment, and onset of a vasculitic rash suggested an alternative diagnosis. Based on angiographic abnormalities, polymyalgia, hypertension and skin involvement, this patient met criteria for juvenile PAN. She was treated with six months of intravenous cyclophosphamide and high dose corticosteroids for presumed PAN related coronary vasculitis. Maintenance therapy was continued with azathioprine and the patient currently remains without evidence of active vasculitis. She remains on anticoagulation for persistence of the aneurysms. This case illustrates a rare and unusual presentation of giant coronary artery aneurysms in the setting of juvenile PAN.

Sudden death due to polyarteritis nodosa

Classical polyarteritis nodosa (cPAN) refers to a rare, potentially fatal systemic transmural necrotizing vasculitis that usually affects medium-sized, and occasionally small, muscular arteries, primarily involves the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, skin, nervous system, joints, and muscles, and is rarely, if ever, expressed in the lungs. The incidence of mortality has significantly decreased with recently developed treatment modalities, in particular antiviral medications. Sudden death due to previously undiagnosed cPAN is rarely encountered. We report a case of a young man who had been evaluated on three occasions by medical personnel in the 3 weeks prior to his death. He had complained of nonspecific symptoms of abdominal and perineal/suprapubic pain, nausea, vomiting, sensation of chilling, and constipation. The spectrum of diagnoses included "gastroenteritis," enteric infection, and prostatitis. Found agonal at home and dying despite immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), he underwent a medicolegal autopsy, which revealed vasculitis of various organs, including heart (myocardium and epicardium) and extramural coronary arteries, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, stomach and bowel, omentum, gallbladder, and pancreas. His sudden death was cardiac in nature due to PAN associated clinically with hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (hepatitis B virus-associated PAN [HBV-PAN]). A complete autopsy with thorough histopathological examination is necessary to diagnose this uncommon yet potentially fatal vasculitis.

Acute Myocardial Infarction due to Polyarteritis Nodosa in a Young Female Patient

Coronary artery aneurysms are uncommon, are usually associated with atherosclerosis, and rarely involve all three major coronary arteries. The present report describes a rare case of a young female patient presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Coronary angiography revealed multiple severe aneurysmal and stenotic changes. Based on clinical feature and angiographic findings, it was strongly suspected that the patient had polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) complicated by AMI. The patient was treated with standard cardiac medications and immunosuppressive agents and has remained stable without further complications during a follow-up period of 6 months.

Dissection of the temporal artery in a patient with giant cell arteritis

A 74-year-old woman presented to her rheumatologist with classic symptoms of giant cell arteritis. The temporal arteries were strikingly swollen, warm, and erythematous. On biopsy of the right temporal artery, a focal dissection was found associated with a pan-arteritis and giant cells. Isolated temporal artery dissection in giant cell arteritis has not been reported previously. We propose that the unusually intense vascular inflammation may have weakened the vessel wall, so that the dissection occurred during the routine physical exam or biopsy. We believe this case illustrates that physicians should take special care in the examination of floridly inflamed vessels, because vigorous palpation might lead to dissection. In the case of patients with giant cell arteritis, dissection may result in an increased risk of ischemic complications, such as scalp necrosis.

Idiopathic spontaneous coronary artery dissection: incidence, diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND

Less is known about characteristics, treatment and follow-up of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) without associated pregnancy or underlying atherosclerosis.

METHODS

We reviewed 5054 consecutive coronary angiographies for SCAD in patients without atherosclerosis or associated pregnancy and performed follow-up angiography in eligible patients.

RESULTS

SCAD were assessed in five patients (mean age 44 +/- 8.7 years). Interestingly, all were premenopausal women. Three had no cardiovascular risk factors, whereas two were previous smokers and one had slightly elevated cholesterol levels. Clinical presentation was acute myocardial infarction in four cases and unstable angina pectoris in one of them. Dissection was localized in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in three cases and in the first marginal branch of the left circumflex artery in two cases. Three patients were treated conservatively with antithrombotic therapy and beta-blocker, whereas in one patient rescue-PCI with stenting of the ostium of the LAD was performed after failed thrombolysis. The fifth woman with dissected proximal LAD underwent CABG. Follow-up angiographies after 5.9 +/- 4.4 months showed complete angiographic resolution of the dissection in the medically treated patients and a perfect angiographic result of the stented LAD. All patients were free of symptoms after a mean follow-up of 13 +/- 10 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Idiopathic SCAD is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome in premenopausal women. In case of single vessel dissection and normal blood flow of the dissected vessel, medical treatment with aspirin, clopidogrel and beta-blockade leads to complete angiographic resolution within a few months.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a woman receiving 5-fluorouracil--a case report

A 39-year-old woman with cervical cancer treated with pelvic radiation therapy and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was hospitalized for dehydration and intractable vomiting. She developed an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) that extended electrocardiographically after thrombolytic therapy. Coronary angiography demonstrated a completely occluded left anterior descending (LAD) artery with extensive coronary dissection that was treated successfully with stenting. The authors discuss several factors that may have contributed to the spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) including chemotherapy-induced vasospasm, hemodynamic stress of vomiting, and hormonal changes associated with pelvic radiation.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection associated with cocaine use: a case report and brief review

Isolated, spontaneous dissection of the coronary arteries in the absence of trauma is an unusual but well-documented occurrence. Fewer than 50 cases have been reported in males in the English language literature, and only one case, nonfatal, was associated with cocaine use. We present the second overall and the first fatal case of cocaine-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection and a brief review of the literature on coronary dissection and the cardiovascular effects of cocaine use. The mechanism of cocaine's toxicity on the heart and vasculature is complex, multifactorial, and predominantly related to cocaine's adrenergic properties. The increased arterial blood pressure from cocaine's inotropic and chronotropic effects combined with its direct vasoconstrictive effect leads to increased shear forces on the coronary endothelium. This elevated stress may be responsible for the formation of an intimal tear and the subsequent dissection of the coronary artery. If the dissected portion of the arterial wall is displaced enough to significantly occlude the true lumen, infarction can result. In light of this possibility, coronary artery dissection must be considered in young patients presenting with symptoms of cardiac ischemia and a history of cocaine use.