Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: the management dilemma continues

Altered Mental Status in the Setting of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) and Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD): A Case Report and Literature Review

Altered mental status (AMS) is a common condition encountered in daily practice. Finding the cause is essential for treatment, but sometimes this may be challenging. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is frequently underdiagnosed and is a potentially fatal cause of acute coronary syndrome. Clinical presentation depends on the extent of SCAD, ranging from unstable angina to sudden death. AMS has not been reported with this condition, but it may be possible in hypoperfusion states. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is part of the microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) spectrum, presenting with AMS as the cardinal symptom. TTP is a clinical emergency, and a high index of suspicion should be present as the mortality rate in untreated patients is extremely high and can be significantly reduced with proper treatment. We present a case of a 44-year-old female with a past medical history of antiphospholipid syndrome not on anticoagulation, peptic ulcer disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, seizures, congestive heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF 40%), two non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions not on dual antiplatelet therapy due to a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, and TTP, admitted to the hospital with AMS. The patient was diagnosed with two life-threatening pathologies with overlapping features but opposing management; TTP may have been caused by SCAD, even though this has never been reported. It is essential to recognize that while a single diagnosis frequently explains a patient's clinical manifestations, there are instances when various conditions may be present.

Conditions and Factors Associated With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (from a National Population-Based Cohort Study)

The pathophysiology of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is heterogeneous, associated with systemic arteriopathies and inflammatory diseases, and often compounded by environmental precipitants, genetics, or stressors. However, the frequency of these associated conditions with SCAD on a population level remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this analysis was to evaluate heterogeneous phenotypes of SCAD in the United States using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample collected from January 1, 2004, to September 31, 2015. Among 66,360 patients diagnosed with SCAD, the mean age was 63.1 ± 13.2 years and 44.2% were women. A total of 3,415 (5.14%) had depression, 670 (1.0%) had rheumatoid arthritis, 640 (0.96%) had anxiety, 545 (0.82%) had a migraine disorder, 440 (0.66%) used steroids, 385 (0.58%) had malignant hypertension, 280 (0.42%) had systemic lupus erythematosus, 250 (0.38%) had cocaine abuse, 215 (0.32%) had hypertensive heart or renal disease, 130 (0.19%) had coronary spasm, 105 (0.16%) had fibromuscular dysplasia, 85 (0.13%) had Crohn's disease, 75 (0.11%) had celiac disease, 60 (0.09%) had adult autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, 60 (0.09%) had hormone replacement therapy, 55 (0.08%) had sarcoidosis, 55 (0.08%) had amphetamine abuse, 15 (0.02%) had granulomatosis polyangiitis, 10 (0.02%) had α1-antitrypsin deficiency, 10 (0.02%) had Marfan syndrome, 10 (0.02%) had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, 10 (0.02%) had Kawasaki disease, 10 (0.02%) had polyarteritis nodosa, and 5 (0.01%) had multiparity. In conclusion, most cases of SCAD had no apparent concomitant arteriopathy, inflammatory disorder, or evident risk factor.

Clomiphene Associated Inferior STEMI in a Young Female due to Right Coronary Artery Dissection

Nonatherosclerotic spontaneous coronary artery dissection (NA-SCAD) is an uncommon cause of myocardial infarction. It most commonly affects females in the perimenopausal age. NA-SCAD has been associated with many predisposing factors including pregnancy and hormonal therapy for both contraception and ovulation induction. The presented case is a previously healthy 41-year-old woman diagnosed with inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to right descending coronary artery dissection associated with recent use of clomiphene monotherapy for ovulation induction (a previously fertile woman), which was not previously reported. Learning Objectives. Emergency physicians (EPs) should be aware about NA-SCAD as a cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) especially in perimenopausal women even with no risk factors. NA-SCAD occurs more commonly in the postpartum period and in females following hormonal therapy. Here, clomiphene monotherapy was reported as a possible contributing factor to NA-SCAD. Guidelines for NA-SCAD management are not up to date, and EPs should avoid some interference before the final diagnosis of the cause of myocardial infarction.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection as the first presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus

A 33-year-old woman with no premorbidities presented to us with chest pain and worsening dyspnoea since 1 week. Systemic examination was suggestive of acute pulmonary oedema and preliminary investigations revealed evolved anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI). The patient was stabilised and taken up for angiography which revealed spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. She underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the same. Further investigation into the cause for the SCAD came strongly positive for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had no prior symptoms suggestive of SLE and the SCAD was its very first clinical manifestation.

Rare case of asymptomatic spontaneous coronary artery dissection

We present a case of a 46-year-old woman who presented to the emergency room after a syncopal episode. Most of her initial workup did not lead to any diagnosis. However, the transthoracic echocardiogram showed new onset left ventricular dysfunction. Further, cardiac evaluation showed a chronic coronary artery dissection in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Syncope was related to vasovagal event but rapid plasma reagin being positive led to the question of whether the coronary artery dissection was secondary to vasculitic manifestation of prior syphilis infection. More research is needed to answer this question and to find such an association. <Learning objective: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare disease of young adults that can present acutely as an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with chest pain, as malignant ventricular arrhythmia, and even as sudden cardiac death. Our report is focused on evaluation and management of SCAD, more importantly to consider SCAD as a differential diagnosis in ACS in young patients, especially females. Our review also stresses the need for further research toward development of consensus on management of such patients.>.