Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in an elderly woman presenting with chest pain and positive cardiac biomarkers

J Invasive Cardiol. 2012 Sep;24(9):E193-5.

Abstract

A 68-year-old African American female with a prior medical history of hypertension and dyslipidemia presented with sudden onset pressure-like substernal chest pain. Initial ECG showed no ST or T wave abnormalities, and troponin elevation of 2.88 ng/mL. Two hours later, chest pain recurred with ECG change and increase in troponin to 11.97 ng/mL. She underwent urgent coronary angiography, which revealed left anterior descending artery dissection with thrombus. We successfully treated with balloon angioplasty followed by placement of 3 drug-eluting stents resulting in TIMI-3 flow; further testing for vasculitis was negative. Once spontaneous coronary artery dissection is diagnosed, the approach to treatment is controversial and treatment should be patient tailored.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
  • Biomarkers
  • Chest Pain / diagnosis*
  • Chest Pain / therapy
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / complications
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / therapy
  • Drug-Eluting Stents*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology*
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Diseases / complications
  • Vascular Diseases / congenital*
  • Vascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Vascular Diseases / therapy

Substances

  • Biomarkers

Supplementary concepts

  • Coronary Artery Dissection, Spontaneous