Spontaneous coronary artery dissection presenting as acute myocardial infarction

J Natl Med Assoc. 2000 Feb;92(2):87-90.

Abstract

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare entity being increasingly diagnosed as a cause of acute myocardial infarction, especially in cases of low cardiac risk female patients. This is one such case report of a black female patient, who suffered an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction due to an idiopathic spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the left anterior descending artery. She was treated with a thrombolytic agent in the acute phase, uneventfully. An urgent coronary angiogram demonstrated an intimal tear with a dissection of the left anterior descending artery. She survived the acute event and her subsequent hospital course was uncomplicated. Hence she was treated medically for her ischemic event and left ventricular systolic dysfunction with a favorable outcome. This case is yet another report of a survivor treated with a thrombolytic agent for the acute myocardial infarction due to spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Dissection / complications*
  • Aortic Dissection / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Aneurysm / complications*
  • Coronary Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents