PMID: 16618031Apr 19, 2006Paper

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection on the 10th post-partum day: a case report

Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux
E AllaguiMarc Renard

Abstract

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of myocardial infarction. It most commonly occurs in young women in the peri-partum period. The aetiology remains obscure. The authors describe the case of a 38 year old woman who suffered an inferior wall myocardial infarction on the 10th post-partum day. After failure of thrombolysis, coronary angiography showed dissection of the right coronary artery. An attempted angioplasty was unsuccessful and the patient was treated medically with a favourable clinical outcome. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection should be considered in all young patients without coronary risk factors presenting with acute myocardial ischaemia, especially young women in the peri-partum period. Emergency coronary angiography should be undertaken to establish the diagnosis and orientate appropriate treatment which may be medical, interventional or surgical.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, that can lead to muscular or electrical dysfunction of the heart. It is often an irreversible disease that is associated with a poor prognosis. There are different causes and classifications of cardiomyopathies. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to this disease.