Endothelial Dysfunction Is Not Associated With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Regional and temporal variations of spontaneous coronary artery dissection care according to consensus recommendations: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

The first expert consensus documents on management of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) were published in 2018. Worldwide quality of care, as measured by adherence to these recommendations, has not been systematically reviewed. We aim to review the proportion of patients with SCAD receiving consensus recommendations globally, regionally and, determine differences in practice before and after 2018.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic review was performed by searching four main databases (Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, CINAHL) from their inception to 16 June 2022. Studies were selected if they included patients with SCAD and reported at least one of the consensus document recommendations. 53 studies, n=8456 patients (mean 50.1 years, 90.6% female) were included. On random effects meta-analysis, 92.1% (95% CI 89.3 to 94.8) received at least one antiplatelet, 78.0% (CI 73.5 to 82.4) received beta-blockers, 58.7% (CI 52.3 to 65.1) received ACE inhibitors or aldosterone receptor blockers (ACEIs/ARBs), 54.4% (CI 45.4 to 63.5) were screened for fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), and 70.2% (CI 60.8 to 79.5) were referred to cardiac rehabilitation. Except for cardiac rehabilitation referral and use of ACEIs/ARBs, there was significant heterogeneity in all other quality-of-care parameters, across geographical regions. No significant difference was observed in adherence to recommendations in studies published before and after 2018, except for lower cardiac rehabilitation referrals after 2018 (test of heterogeneity, p=0.012).

CONCLUSION

There are significant variations globally in the management of patients with SCAD, particularly in FMD screening. Raising awareness about consensus recommendations and further prospective evidence about their effect on outcomes may help improve the quality of care for these patients.

Concomitant coronary microvascular dysfunction and spontaneous coronary artery dissection resulting in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

We report a patient with angina and no flow-limiting epicardial coronary artery disease who presented with recurrent spontaneous coronary artery dissection resulting in an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and evidence of coronary microvascular dysfunction on coronary angiography. We review each condition's pathophysiology and provide a review of the literature for reported associations between these disease processes. <Learning objective: Readers will recognize the considerable overlap of risk factors between patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection and coronary microvascular dysfunction. Our patient had both conditions underlying her heart disease. We provide a review of the literature regarding the underlying pathophysiology for each condition and underscore possible associations between these disease processes. Further studies are needed to determine a definitive link.>.