Central nervous system manifestations in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

Recognition of the clinical characteristics of acute coronary artery thrombosis, with cardiac infarction, has become common-place since the pioneer work of Herrick. 1 Pain, the most alarming aspect of such seizures, has been emphasized in dramatic language. 1–4 In spite of recent emphasis on the fact that the attacks may be painless, an important reason for overlooking an acute attack is the absence of pain as a major symptom. 5–7 On the other hand, pain in the chest is likely to lead to a diagnosis of cardiac infarction without critical exclusion of other possible causes. 5, 6 Because of the many obstacles in the way of correct interpretation of atypical cases of infarction of the heart we have undertaken a retrospective study of autopsy material. This paper presents a group of cases in which the symptoms indicated acute cerebral disease, but autopsy revealed a recent myocardial infarct and no acute cerebral vascular lesion.