1. Introduction Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and emergent condition where a tear in the intimal portion of the coronary artery produces ischemia to the myocardium – mimicking coronary atherosclerotic obstruction. SCAD is typically found in younger and middle-aged females (around 87-95% of cases) and has a relatively high rate of recurrence with one prospective cohort demonstrating a 10.4% recurrence rate. This same cohort indicates a high association between SCAD and connective tissue disorders. It is estimated that connective tissue disorders and arteriopathies (Marfan’s disease, LoeysDietz, Ehlers-Danlos) are associated with increased risk for SCAD although these only account for 5-9% of cases.1 Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart defect in the US, occurring in up to 0.5%-2% of the population. The aortopathy associated with bicuspid aortic valve can result in aortic aneurysm formation and increased risk for aortic dissection and rupture. We present a case in a younger male patient with a bicuspid aortic valve and an associated aortopathy who presents with myocardial infarction from spontaneous coronary artery dissection.
2. Presentation and History HA 45-year-old Caucasian male presented to the Emergency Department (ED) by emergency medical transport (EMS) with chest pain feeling like a “muscle spasm.” He rated the pain as 6/10 which improved to 1/10 upon arrival to the ED. There were no known exacerbating factors, and his associated symptoms included dyspnea, lightheadedness, and diaphoresis. Patient had no significant known cardiac history and informed the ED team he had recently “ran a half marathon.” Family history was obtained and was positive for paternal grandfather having “four heart attacks” and having a father who received balloon angioplasty to a coronary artery. Patient denied history of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug abuse. Physical exam by the ED Physician was unremarkable.
3. Workup ECG from EMS revealed sinus bradycardia with ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF, V5, V6. No prior study was available for comparison. Repeat ECG demonstrated sinus bradycardia at a rate of 53 bpm and T-wave flattening/inversions in leads III and aVF with resolution of ST elevations. Troponin was 0.01 and otherwise labs were unremarkable with no significant kidney dysfunction or anemia. Given concerning pre-hospital ECG, interventional cardiologist was consulted given likely diagnosis of ACS, and the patient was transferred to cath lab. Patient underwent urgent coronary angiogram revealing severe and diffuse mid-segment stenosis of a large right posterolateral branch (RPL1) consistent with a type IIa SCAD lesion (Figure 1). Given resolution of angina symptoms, medical management was recommended, and no PCI was performed. Subsequent 2D Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE) revealed normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 65% with bicuspid aortic valve and 4.0 cm dilatation of the ascending aorta (Figure 2). Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) of neck, chest, and abdomen did not demonstrate Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD), and confirmed presence of ascending aortic dilatation measuring 4.1 x 4.1 cm.
4. Management Patient was treated with clopidogrel 75mg and aspirin 81mg daily for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in addition to Metoprolol succinate 12.5mg. There was no clear indication for statin therapy given the absence of atherosclerosis and blood pressure was well controlled. Patient was discharged in stable condition with referral to cardiac rehab.
5. Outcome Patient presented 48 hours later with chest pain and recurrent STEMI on ECG. Coronary angiogram revealed a distal occlusion (99%) of the RPL1 with TIMI 1 flow which was successfully intervened upon with cutting balloon angioplasty of distal SCAD lesion. There was 0% residual stenosis post intervention. Patient was discharged 48 hours later on aspirin, clopidogrel and metoprolol succinate; however, patient presented one week later to the hospital with recurrent chest pain and NSTEMI. Troponin I peaked at 3.68 and then decreased to 1.7 the following morning. Chest pain subsided and patient was started on isosorbide mononitrate 30mg for management of angina and was discharged on otherwise similar medical management 48hr later. The following day, patient returned to the hospital with recurrent chest pain and NSTEMI and troponin I of 1.93. General Cardiology team and Interventional Cardiologist discussed case and agreed repeat angiogram with possible percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was appropriate given recurrent symptoms. Patient was transferred to the cardiac catheterization lab once more and PCI of the RPL1 dissection was performed with placement of two Orsiro overlapping drug eluting stents (Figure 3). Limited TTE obtained during admission was unremarkable demonstrating preserved LVEF. Patient was discharged soon afterward with unchanged medical therapy in stable condition.
6. Follow Up Patient followed up with the out-patient Cardiologist two weeks after coronary stent placement and routinely for 1 year post stent placement. He was feeling well from a cardiac perspective, tolerating current medications without noticeable side effects, and completed cardiac rehab without chest pain recurrence. He was referred for genetic testing regarding bicuspid valve and SCAD history. Physician recommended repeat transthoracic echocardiogram for annual surveillance of the dilated ascending aorta.
7. Discussion 7.1. Prevalence and Presentation SCAD is predominantly found in females, and male cases most often present after activities involving isometric exertion. Even so, our patient had no recent history of isometric exertion, but he had recently completed a half marathon and the cardiovascular stress of such an activity may have been a contributing factor to his dissection. Expert reviews have advised the avoidance of high intensity endurance training in SCAD cases. The currently understood factors that are associated with recurrent SCAD – extreme exertion or stress (after the first occurrence), uncontrolled hypertension, migraine headaches, and severe coronary vessel tortuosity – were not present in this case.2 He was otherwise healthy without a significant cardiac history – not uncommon in SCAD cases. A bicuspid valve was also found on transthoracic echocardiogram, and although connective tissue disorders are highly associated with SCAD occurrence, no association between bicuspid aortic valve and SCAD has been identified at this time outside of other isolated case studies. , Furthermore, a recent histopathological study in SCAD survivors demonstrated typical FMD arterial changes were not present in samples derived from coronary arteries – indicating SCAD vasculopathy may be independent of those
changes occurring in FMD cases. At the same time, other connective tissue disorders like Marfan syndrome carry a high risk of SCAD, and histopathological findings between aortic walls in these patients resemble those with a bicuspid valve. On the basis of this, an association between this aortopathy and SCAD should not be ruled out at this time. It is unclear based on present evidence how much of a contributing factor a bicuspid valve may be to the development of SCAD or its recurrence. While our case is consistent with retrospective data showing SCAD lesion extension within 30 days is more common than recurrent SCAD involving a new coronary artery in the same time frame, it will be interesting to see as literature develops if aortopathy can influence or be associated with an early recurrence or lesion extension.
8. Conclusions More data on the possible overlapping prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve in SCAD patients may shed light on how the two disease states influence one another from a prognostic standpoint (if at all). Connective tissue diseases have been demonstrated as a risk factor for SCAD. It would be interesting to elucidate whether bicuspid aortic valve aortopathy, which has similar histological findings to aortopathy in patients with Marfan syndrome, increases the risk for SCAD. In addition, future studies should investigate sex-based influence on treatment response and outcomes, but given the relative dearth of males in SCAD cohorts, this question remains difficult to answer for the time being.
9. Abbreviations and acronyms: ACS - Acute Coronary syndrome; ECG – Electrocardiogram; ED – Emergency Department; DAPT – Duel Antiplatelet Therapy; FMD – Fibromuscular Dysplasia; LVEF – Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction; PCI – Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; RPL1 – Right posterolateral artery; SCAD – Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection; STEMI – ST Segment Myocardial Infarction; TTE – Transthoracic Echocardiogram
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Zachary Robert Caverley. A Male Patient with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and A Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Annals of Clinical and Medical Case Reports 2024