Abstract

Abstract Coronary artery kink is a variant of anomalous coronary artery, not related to vessel disease. Often it is associated with coronary artery tortuosity (CAT) and fibromuscular dysplasia. The pathogenesis and clinical implications are not fully understood. Kinks are hypothesized to cause coronary blood flow alterations that can results in ischemia and even in acute coronary syndrome. It is speculated that coronary artery kinks are most often caused by guide wire straightening and seen after wiring the artery, but that is not always the case. We describe the case of a 55 years old woman, with familiar history of CAD. In 2019 she had percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale closure intervention. She presented to the Emergency Department complaining chest pain radiating into the neck. The ECG was normal, but Troponin I levels were mildly elevated (2,1 ng/ml) and ipokinesia of basal and mid segment of the anterior intraventricular spetum was found at the ecoscopy. The patient was admitted to Cardiology department with diagnosis of unstable angina and urgent coronary angiography was performed. At a first glance the coronary arteries did not exhibit significant arteriosclerotic or thrombotic changes. However, upon a closer review, a focal kink of the mid left descending coronary artery was found. This coronary kink folded the LAD during systole causing a transient stenosis that resolved during diastole. Management of coronary kinks is controversial. In the past, literature suggested treatment with coronary stenting as one of the management options. However there are reported cases of adverse outcomes, such as shifting of kink proximally, requiring an additional stenting. We decided to treat patient with medical approach: beta–blockers at the tolerated doses was initiated, in addition to ACE–Inibithor, Aspirin and statin. Stenting of the coronary artery was not a choice, due to the possibility of shifting (as described in literature) and stent fracture. At a one month follow up the patient presented asymptomatic for angina, palpitation or dyspnea. Even if rarely coronary artery kink is a potential cause of myocardial ischemia and its treatment is often challenging to improve patient quality of life and to prevent adverse cardiac event.

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