Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a patient with hereditary polycystic kidney disease and a recent liver transplant: a case report

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in patients with prior psychophysical stress: a systematic review of case reports and case series

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an underdiagnosed cause of acute coronary syndrome, particularly in younger women. Due to limited information about SCAD, case reports and case series can provide valuable insights into its features and management. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the features of SCAD patients who experienced psychophysical stress before the SCAD event.

METHODS

We conducted an electronic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception until January 7, 2023. We included case reports or series that described patients with SCAD who had experienced psychophysical stress before SCAD. Patients with pregnancy-associated SCAD were excluded from our analysis.

RESULTS

In total, we included 93 case reports or series describing 105 patients with SCAD. The average patient age was 44.29 ± 13.05 years and a total of 44 (41.9%) of patients were male. Among the included SCAD patients the most prevalent comorbidities were fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and hypertension with the prevalence of 36.4 and 21.9%, respectively. Preceding physical stress was more frequently reported in men than in women; 38 out of 44 (86.4%) men reported physical stress, while 36 out of 61 (59.1%) females reported physical stress (p value = 0.009). On the other hand, the opposite was true for emotional stress (men: 6 (13.6%)), women: 29 (47.6%), p value < 0.001). Coronary angiography was the main diagnostic tool. The most frequently involved artery was the left anterior descending (LAD) (62.9%). In our study, recurrence of SCAD due to either the progression of a previous lesion or new SCAD in another coronary location occurred more frequently in those treated conservatively, however the observed difference was not statistically significant (p value = 0.138).

CONCLUSION

While physical stress seems to precede SCAD in most cases, emotional stress is implicated in females more than males.

Management of Hypertension and Associated Cardiovascular Disease in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most commonly inherited disease of the kidneys affecting an estimated 12,000,000 people in the world. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a systemic disease, with a wide range of associated features that includes hypertension, valvular heart diseases, cerebral aneurysms, aortic aneurysms, liver cysts, abdominal hernias, diverticulosis, gross hematuria, urinary tract infections, nephrolithiasis, pancreatic cysts, and seminal vesicle cysts. The cardiovascular anomalies are somewhat different than in the general population and also chronic kidney disease population, with higher morbidity and mortality rates. This review will focus on cardiovascular diseases associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and their management.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Transplanted Heart

We report the case of a 37-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath 1 year post heart transplantation. He was receiving tacrolimus, methylprednisolone, and mycophenolate. An angiogram showed spontaneous coronary artery dissection involving the left anterior descending artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed successfully, with stent placement and return of flow. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Spontaneous coronary dissection should not be ignored in patients with chest pain in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: A case report

BACKGROUND

When autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) presents with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the possibility of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) should be highly considered. In some cases, SCAD is considered an extrarenal manifestation of ADPKD depending on the pathological characteristics of the unstable arterial wall in ADPKD.

CASE SUMMARY

Here, we report a 46-year-old female patient with ADPKD who presented with ACS. Coronary angiography revealed no definite signs of dissection, while intravascular ultrasound revealed a proximal to distal dissection of the left circumflex. After a careful conservative medication treatment, the patient exhibited favorable prognosis.

CONCLUSION

In cases of ADPKD co-existing with ACS, differential diagnosis of SCAD should be considered. Moreover, when no clear dissection is found on coronary angiography, IVUS should be performed to prevent missed diagnosis.

Not Your Common Athletic Heart Problem: Using Coronary CTA to Visualize Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

A 19-year-old healthy male collegiate athlete presented with typical anginal symptoms after running a 5K race. He had complained of similar symptoms off and on for the past month. On presentation, troponin was 0.12 ng/ml (reference value < 0.01 ng/ml), which peaked at 17.7 ng/ml and CK-MB was 28.71 IU/L (reference value < 25 IU/L). ECG showed diffuse biphasic T-waves. Coronary computed tomography angiogram (cCTA) demonstrated a 1.5 cm dissection in the left anterior descending artery and a 1.9 × 1.8 cm attenuation defect in the left ventricular apex consistent with thrombus. Subsequent coronary catheterization confirmed dissection of the left anterior descending artery. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare phenomenon. Diagnosis can be made through noninvasive measures but is usually done through left heart catheterization. In young patients who present with an NSTEMI, clinical suspicion for SCAD among other conditions should be raised. Additionally, recognizing that complications such as intracardiac thrombi can occur in SCAD is critical in ensuring appropriate therapy.

Multivessel spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a patient after mild COVID-19: A case report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by heterogeneity of possible cardiovascular manifestations. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome, the development of which in patients with COVID-19 has been described and studied insufficiently. A 35-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with an acute coronary syndrome a few weeks after mild COVID-19. According to coronary angiography, a dissection of ramus intermedius was detected. Successful stenting was performed. Subsequently, the patient had relapses of chest pain, which led to two repeated coronary angiographies. The patient had been diagnosed with consecutive dissections of right coronary artery and distal branch of ramus intermedius. Repeated stenting of dissected segments of right coronary artery and ramus intermedius was not performed. Afterward, the patient’s condition remained stable and he was successfully discharged. One of the main pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 is probably the virus-triggered hyperinflammation and massive release of cytokines. A systemic inflammatory response may initiate inflammation of the vascular wall and other target tissues. The results of histological studies confirm the direct infection of endothelial cells 2019-nCoV with the development of diffuse endothelial inflammation (endotheliitis). It is possible that in patients with a genetic predisposition to artery dissection, COVID-19 may be a trigger of spontaneous coronary artery dissection.