Beyond Atherothrombotic Disease in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

Half of the global population over 20 years of age will be affected by cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular events in young people is challenging. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall and is an uncommon and underdiagnosed cause of acute myocardial infarction predominately found in young women. Medical management has been more widely accepted, with percutaneous and surgery treatment reserved for precise indications. Optimal control of individual risk factors is essential in order to avoid recurrences.

Keywords
Cardiovascular Diseases/complications; Coronary Thrombosis; Dissection; Young Adult; Pregnancy/complications; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Manuela Molano, MD Universidad del Rosario Residente Anestesiología y Reanimación, Fundación de Ciencias de la Salud Bogotá - Colombia

Introduction

Total cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and systemic arterial hypertension) globally affects up to 48% of all adults over 20 years of age, a trend that is increasing in prevalence and mortality, especially in countries of low resources, characterized by a high prevalence of comorbidities.¹

The incidence of acute myocardial infarction has remained stable over the years, despite international strategies that aim to control risk factors. Two-hundred-thirty cases per 100,000 are reported, with a higher impact in men, African-Americans, and those over 65 years of age.²

Coronary disease in adults younger than 45 years of age is always challenging. Their incidence is 0.5 – 2.4 cases per 1,000 people per year and although they sometimes present classical risk factors, there are other associated conditions that must be taken into account, such as metabolic syndrome, familiar hypercholesterolemia, hypercoagulability, toxic substances (cocaine and cannabinoids), autoimmune diseases, or abnormal variants of the coronary arteries. In women, gender-specific risk factors, such as oral contraceptives, hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and menopausal-linked hypoestrogenism, increase the incidence of new events.^3-5

This study reports on a case of a 44-year-old female patient with a history of a hypertensive disorder associated with pregnancy. She required temporary antihypertensive treatment, which was subsequently discontinued. Years later, she received medical care due to chest pain, documenting a coronary dissection of the marginal obtuse. Medical treatment was established with good follow-up evolution.

Case report

The patient was a 44-year-old white woman, with a history of preeclampsia 10 years ago, after which antihypertensive treatment was recommended for 6 months, with gradual suspension of medication during outpatient follow-up. She was admitted to the emergency room, reporting 48 hours of a non-irradiated oppressive chest pain, whcih intensified with effort and partially decreased at rest, associated with decreased functional class NYHA I to NYHA III. The patient was previously asymptomatic. The physical examination documented high blood pressure 170/90 mmHg, with no other relevant data. The electrocardiogram revealed a repolarization disorder in the upper lateral leads (Figure 1), with positive myocardial injury biomarkers (troponin I). Coronary arteriography identified a diffuse arterial narrowing, bordered by normal segments, proximal and distal to the lesion, suggestive of a type 2A spontaneous dissection of the first obtuse marginal artery, with no evidence of atherothrombotic disease.

Figure 1
EKG: sinus rhythm, repolarization disorder in the upper lateral lead

The thoracic echocardiogram revealed a left ventricle with segmental contractility disorders and mild systolic function compromise of 49%, measured by Simpson. Likewise, a type I diastolic dysfunction was identified due to an alteration in relaxation.

Conservative management under antiplatelet therapy in monotherapy and a beta block was applied with satisfactory clinical evolution. At the six-month follow-up appointment, the patient had completely recovered her functional status, with improvement in left ventricular function and complete resolution of segmental contractility defect.

Discussion

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as the separation of the middle and the intima of a coronary epicardial artery not associated with atherosclerosis, thromboembolism, trauma, or iatrogenesis. It is an uncommon and underdiagnosed cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).⁵

Historically, the first report dates from 1931 by Pretty, who identified this condition during an autopsy of a 42-year-old woman who suffered an apparent sudden death.⁶ Its peak incidence is the fourth and fifth decade of life, with a predilection for the female gender in a 4:1 ratio, especially associated, although not exclusive, to the third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum.^6,7

Conventional cardiovascular risk factors in this group of patients are uncommon, although the presence of hypertension (30.1%), dyslipidemia (20.3%), and smoking (11.6%) have been reported. Properly for dissecting events, a high prevalence of fibromuscular dysplasia, connective diseases, autoimmune diseases, and stress situations has been reported.^7-9

SCAD is the cause of 1-4% of all cases of ACS, the vast majority of which appear in women without pregnancy-related conditions. However, when analyzed in pregnant women, SCAD can reach up to 43%, one of the main causes of coronary events in this population.^6,10

The pathophysiological process is unclear, but a disruption of the vessel through an intimal tear that allows the creation of a false light and subsequent dissection or a hemorrhagic phenomenon of the vasa vasorum that dissects the vessel are considered.¹¹

The SCAD properly related to pregnancy can occur during the third trimester, delivery, and early or late postpartum. It is considered that estrogenic and progestogen influx could weaken the arterial walls by altering the content of elastic fibers and mucopolysaccharides, and by decreasing collagen synthesis.^7,12

The clinical presentation does not vary from that of the ACS due to other causes, although the symptoms may be atypical. The Gold standard for diagnosis is coronary angiography. Intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and coronary angiography by computed tomography are also considered highly sensitive and specific.^5,6,13

Medical conservative management is preferred in hemodynamically stable patients since the affected artery heals spontaneously. Invasive procedures may precipitate, or extend the dissection and even a rupture. Interventional management is indicated for those patients with left main trunk involvement or proximal dissections of more than two vessels associated with hemodynamic instability or refractory angina. Thrombolytic therapy should be avoided.^7-9

Medical treatment is based on dual anti-aggregation (monotherapy has been reported in low risk patients) for a minimum of 6 months, with a beta blocker (especially if there is left ventricular dysfunction or arrhythmia control) and a strict control of comorbidities. Severe acute stressful situations should be avoided, and Valsalva maneuver activities should be performed. Statins, since there is no atherosclerotic disease, are not recommended^7,10

Prognosis is usually good. Intrahospital major adverse events were documented in 8.8%, rising to 22% in peripartum. The majority of patients achieve vessel remodeling and spontaneous healing on day 30 in follow-up angiographies, and recurrence is around 10%.^10-13

In patients who report fibromuscular dysplasia, especially at the renal level with associated renal ischemic disease, stent angioplasty, or renal revascularization, should be considered in order to avoid acute hypertensive crises mediated by renal hypoperfusion.¹⁴

Conclusion

Coronary dissection is a cause to bear in mind in young women patients with acute coronary syndrome, with or without ST segment elevation, with no associated cardiovascular risk factors. The diagnosis is based on arteriography and is part of the spectrum in cases of MINOCA (myocardial infarction with healthy coronaries). Medical management is essential and actively seeks the underlying cause to prevent recurrences.

• Sources of Funding
  There were no external funding sources for this study.
• Study Association
  This study is not associated with any thesis or dissertation work.
• Ethics approval and consent to participate
  This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

References

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  12 May 2021
• Date of issue
  Jul-Aug 2021

History

• Received
  23 Mar 2020
• Reviewed
  07 June 2020
• Accepted
  29 Aug 2020