Myocardial infarction in young patients without coronary atherosclerosis: assume primary antiphospholipid syndrome until proved otherwise

Epidemiology of antiphospholipid syndrome: macro- and microvascular manifestations

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by thrombotic and non-thrombotic macro- and microvascular manifestations and pregnancy complications in the setting of persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), namely anticardiolipin antibodies, anti-β2 glycoprotein-I antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. Four decades after its first description, APS prevalence and incidence are still not completely understood due to the limited number of well-designed, population-based multi-ethnic studies. Furthermore, despite decades of efforts to standardise aPL immunoassays, considerable intraassay and interlaboratory variances in aPL measures still exist. Large multicentre APS cohorts have shown a 10-year survival of ∼91% and the presence of catastrophic APS occurs in about 1% of the entire population, associated with a 50% mortality rate. Clinically, any organ can be affected in the context of large, medium or small vessel (artery and/or vein) thrombosis. Macrovascular thrombosis is the hallmark of the disease and veins are more frequently affected than arteries. Deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism thromboembolic disease is the most common APS manifestation, while stroke and transient ischaemic attack are the most frequent arterial thrombosis events. Myocardial infarction can also occur and contributes to increased mortality in APS. A minority of patients present with thrombosis affecting the intraabdominal organs, including the liver, spleen, small and large bowel, and the kidneys. Microvascular thrombosis, including APS nephropathy, chronic skin ulcers and livedoid vasculopathy represent a diagnostic challenge requiring histologic confirmation. In this narrative review we summarize the available evidence on APS epidemiology, focusing on the description of the prevalence of macro- and microvascular manifestations of the disease.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with myocardial infarction with and without obstructive coronary arteries

BACKGROUND

Recent studies demonstrate that prothrombotic antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are overrepresented in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) due to coronary artery disease (MICAD). However, it is not known whether aPL differ between the two subsets of MI: MICAD and MI with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA).

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether aPL are associated with MINOCA or MICAD, or with hypercoagulability as assessed by activated protein C-protein C inhibitor (APC-PCI) complex.

METHODS

Well-characterized patients with MINOCA (n = 98), age- and gender-matched patients with MICAD (n = 99), and healthy controls (n = 100) were included in a cross-sectional case-control study. Autoantibodies (IgA/G/M) targeting cardiolipin and β₂ glycoprotein-I and specific nuclear antigens were analyzed by multiplexed bead technology. The concentration of APC-PCI was determined as a measure of hypercoagulability by an immunofluorometric sandwich assay.

RESULTS

Both prevalence and titers of aPL of the IgG isotype (anti-cardiolipin and/or anti-β₂ glycoprotein-I) were higher in patients with MINOCA and MICAD than in controls. aPL IgG positivity was twice as frequent among patients with MICAD than MINOCA (11% vs. 6%, nonsignificant). We observed no group differences regarding aPL IgA/M or antibodies targeting specific nuclear antigens. Levels of APC-PCI were elevated in aPL IgG-positive compared to aPL IgG-negative MICAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

aPL IgG, but not IgA/M, are enriched particularly in patients with MICAD but also in patients with MINOCA, as compared to controls. Interestingly, signs of hypercoagulability-measured by increased levels of the APC-PCI complex-were present in aPL IgG-positive MICAD patients, indicating an association with functional disturbances of the coagulation system.

Acute coronary syndrome as the first presentation of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

We describe a case of a 42-year-old man who presented with anginal chest pain. He had objective evidence of ongoing cardiac injury. After initial treatment for coronary arterial disease, cardiac catheterisation revealed diffuse coronary arterial thrombosis with embolisation. Follow-up testing implicated new-onset antiphospholipid antibody syndrome as the aetiology.

The frequency of anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with premature coronary artery disease

Introduction: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is known as the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world with a growing trend, especially in some developing countries. CAD commonly observed in elderly cases, however; recently it is usually found in young adults. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) in patients with premature CAD.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in Baqiyatallah hospital from April 2012 to April 2016. Patients with premature CAD were included in the study. The data regarding the laboratory tests, echocardiography, and angiography were obtained from all cases.

Results: Overall 133 eligible patients were included in the study. In the first set of the laboratory test, 18 patients were recognized to have APS (13.53%). The second confirmatory APA test was showing 3 of 18 patients were considered to have APS (2.25%).

Conclusion: The results showed there is an association between the risk of developing Premature CAD and APS could potentially. The APS may have significant effects on the risk of coronary heart disease, especially in young adults.

Risk of Thrombosis in Patients Presenting with Myocardial Infarction with Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA)

Patients presenting with myocardial infarction (MI) in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is termed MI with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). The underlying pathophysiology of MINOCA is multifactorial and in situ formation and subsequent spontaneous lysis of a coronary thrombus is often hypothesized as one of the mechanisms. The objective of this study is to determine whether MINOCA patients had a greater prothrombotic tendency in comparison to MI patients with obstructive CAD (MICAD). Prospectively, blood samples of 25 consecutive MINOCA patients (58 (interquartile range [IQR]: 48, 75) years, 48% women) and 25 age-/gender-matched MICAD patients (58 (IQR: 50, 66) years, 48% women) were obtained at 1 month after the initial presentation and overall thrombin generation potential and congenital/acquired thrombophilia states were assessed. As regard to results, overall thrombin generation parameters were similar ( p  > 0.05) between the MINOCA and MICAD groups, highlighting similar endogenous thrombin potential (1,590 nM/min; IQR: 1,380, 2,000 vs. 1,750 nM/min; IQR: 1,500, 2,040, respectively). There were no significant differences between MINOCA and MICAD, respectively, in respect to the numbers of patients with congenital thrombophilia states including factor V Leiden (0 vs. 4%) and prothrombin gene mutation (8 vs. 4%), decreased antithrombin (8 vs. 0%), protein C (0 vs. 0%), and protein S (4 vs. 0%). None of the patients demonstrated presence of lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies. Although MINOCA patients revealed thrombotic characteristics that are similar to those with MICAD, the results from this study are inconclusive and a larger study with healthy control subjects is required to assess the risk of thrombosis in MINOCA.

Cutting-edge issues in coronary disease and the primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the most frequent cause of venous and arterial thrombotic events in young patients. The brain arterial tree is primarily affected, but coronary ischemic manifestations are also relatively frequent. Coronary involvement was suggested to be closely related to the accelerated atherosclerosis linked to the underlying disease in APS associated to systemic autoimmune diseases, in particular, systemic lupus erythematosus. However, arterial ischemic events can occur in primary APS--with no other systemic disorders--even in the absence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and overt atherosclerosis. From a biological point of view, this finding speaks in favor for a pro-coagulant activity of anti-phospholipid antibodies rather than for their role in atherosclerotic plaque formation. On the other hand, the clinical challenge is to avoid the risk to misdiagnose young patients with potentially life-threatening symptoms, such as myocardial infarction (MI). In fact, the occurrence of nonspecific symptoms related to coronary ischemic events is frequently misdiagnosed because of its rarity in young patients. This issue is well illuminated by two cases of MI in young patients reported in the manuscript together with a systematic review of the associations and implications of coronary ischemic events in APS.

Nephrotic and anti-phospholipid syndromes: multisystem conditions associated with acute myocardial infarction in young patients

Acute myocardial infarction is relatively uncommon in patients under the age of 40 years. Unlike the older patients where rupture of coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque is the main underlying pathology, the pathogenesis in younger patients can be varied and may require different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Hypercoagulable state associated with nephrotic syndrome and antiphospholipid syndrome can lead to the development of occlusive coronary artery thrombus in absence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Acute myocardial infarction in such a setting can sometimes be the first manifestation of an underlying disease. We describe a case of myocardial infarction in a young man with both nephrotic and antiphospho-lipid syndromes and present a brief literature review.

Acute coronary syndromes in treatment-naïve black South africans with human immunodeficiency virus infection

BACKGROUND

HIV patients on protease inhibitors have greater risk of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) but little is known about treatment-naïve patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Authors conducted a prospective single-center study from Soweto, South Africa, comparing the clinical and angiographic features of treatment-naïve HIV positive and negative patients with ACS. Between March 2004 and February 2008, 30 consecutive treatment-naïve HIV patients with ACS were compared to the next HIV-negative patient as a 1:1 control. HIV patients were younger (43 +/- 7 vs. 54 +/- 13, P = 0.004) and, besides smoking (73% vs. 33%, P = 0.002), had fewer risk factors than the control group with less hypertension (23% vs. 77%, P = 0.0001), diabetes (3% vs. 23%, P = 0.05), LDL hyperlipidemia (2.2 +/- 0.9 vs. 3.0 +/- 1.2, P = 0.006), and other coronary risk factors (7% vs. 53%, P = 0.0001). HDL was lower in the HIV group (0.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.4, P = 0.001). Atherosclerotic burden was lower in the HIV group with more normal infarct-related arteries (47% vs. 13%, P = 0.005) but a higher degree of large thrombus burden (43% vs. 17%, P = 0.02). Stents were used to a similar degree in HIV and control patients (30% vs. 37%, P = 0.78) with more target lesion revascularization in the HIV group (56% vs. 0%, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Treatment-naïve HIV patients with ACS are younger and have fewer traditional risk factors than HIV-negative patients. HIV patients have less atherosclerotic but higher thrombotic burden which may imply a prothrombotic state in the pathogenesis of ACS in these patients.

A rare presentation of primary antiphospholipid syndrome

This case presents a young patient with myocardial infarction, in-situ thrombosis of left anterior descending coronary artery and right common-iliac artery due to primary antiphospholipid syndrome. This report discusses the relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies and coronary artery disease along with management of this rare condition.

Antiphospholipid syndrome leading to myocardial infarction in a Fontan patient 17 years after Norwood palliation

Appropriate regimens for anticoagulation in the single ventricle population remain controversial and are usually based on individual practitioners' preferences. We present the case of a patient with a history of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Norwood palliation who presented at 17 years of age with an acute myocardial infarction and a new diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid (Hughes) syndrome: beyond pregnancy morbidity and thrombosis

The antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterised by recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity and the persistence of positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Many other clinical manifestations may occur including heart valve disease, livedo reticularis, thrombocytopenia and neurological manifestations such as migraine and seizures. We review a number of other manifestations including stenotic lesions, coronary artery disease and accelerated atherosclerosis, skeletal disorders and the concept of seronegative antiphospholipid syndrome.