Coronary Artery Dissection Research Articles

Myocardial Infarction in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Results from the Nationwide Readmission Database

Introduction: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematological malignancy with an excellent prognostic outcome. After the advancements in CML treatment and the introduction of different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the life expectancy of CML patients has become equivalent to that of the general population. As a result, coronary artery disease is anticipated to be the leading cause of death among CML patients. Moreover, TKI use is associated with a risk of endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis, and cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction. In this study, we compare the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with CML to their matched non-CML counterparts. Method: This is a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmission Database from January 2016 to December 2020. Adults with or without CML hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction and underwent PCI were included. The patients were identified using ICD-10 codes. The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission rates. The secondary outcomes were PCI complications rates. Results: Out of 2,727,619 patients with myocardial infarction, 2,124 CML patients were identified. A total of 888 CML patients underwent PCI. CML patients were significantly older (mean age: 68.34 ± 11.14 vs. 64.40 ± 12.61 years, p < 0.001) than non-CML patients without a difference in sex distribution. Hypertension (85.45% vs. 78.64%), diabetes (45.48% vs. 37.29), stroke (11.84% vs. 7.78) at baseline were significantly higher in the CML group. Prior myocardial infarction events (20.51% vs. 15.17%) and prior PCI procedure (24.47% vs. 16.89%) were significantly higher in the CML group. CML patients had a significantly longer hospital stay (4.66 ± 4.40 vs. 3.75 ± 4.62 days, p = 0.001). The primary outcomes did not differ between the comparison groups. The risk of post-PCI complications did not differ between the comparison groups in the propensity matched analysis except for coronary artery dissection (odds ratio [OR]: 0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02–0.65, p = 0.016) and ischemic stroke (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14–0.93, p = 0.034) which were lower in the CML group. Conclusion: This analysis showed no statistically significant difference in mortality, 30-day readmission, and post PCI complications rates between CML and non-CML patients. However, interestingly, CML patients may experience lower coronary artery dissection and ischemic stroke events than those without CML diagnosis.

Females with a History of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Exhibit Greater Pressor Responses to Isometric Handgrip and Post-exercise Ischemia Compared to Healthy Females

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) causes acute coronary syndrome via the sudden separation between the coronary arterial wall layers and/or hematoma. The SCAD patient population is &gt;80% female who typically have few or no traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g., obesity, hypertension). Risk of a recurrent SCAD is reported as high as 19% at 3 years after an initial SCAD. Mechanisms underlying SCAD (re)occurrence are unknown. Common triggers for SCAD include sympathoexcitatory stimuli, including heavy exercise and intense Valsalva-like activities. This study tested the hypothesis that SCAD patients exhibit greater neurocardiovascular responses (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, muscle sympathetic nerve activity) to isometric handgrip and post-exercise ischemia compared to healthy females. Methods: Eight females with a history of SCAD (age: 56±6 yrs, BMI: 28±4 kg/m2) and 6 age- and BMI-matched healthy female controls (CON, age: 55±8 yrs, BMI: 26±5 kg/m2) participated. Continuous blood pressure (finger photoplethysmography) and heart rate (3-lead ECG) were measured during rest (1 minute), isometric handgrip at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (2 minutes), and post-exercise ischemia at 220 mmHg (2 minutes) to isolate the skeletal muscle metaboreflex. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, peroneal microneurography) was measured in a subset of participants (5 SCAD/4 CON). Data are presented as an absolute change from rest (mean±SD). Two-way independent t-tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: Resting mean blood pressure (SCAD: 96±8 vs CON: 91±9 mmHg, p=0.354), heart rate (SCAD: 56±11 vs CON: 59±10 bpm, p=0.666), and MSNA (SCAD: 50±19 vs CON: 43±32 bursts/100 heartbeats, p=0.697) were not different between groups. Relative to healthy controls, SCAD patients elicited greater increases in mean blood pressure during isometric handgrip (SCAD: Δ9±3 vs CON: Δ4±4 mmHg, p=0.034) and post-exercise ischemia (SCAD: Δ7±4 vs CON: Δ3±3 mmHg, p=0.046). There were no group differences regarding heart rate responses during isometric handgrip (SCAD: Δ3±4 vs CON: Δ4±4 bpm, p=0.359) and post-exercise ischemia (SCAD: Δ3±4 vs CON: Δ2±3 bpm, p=0.861). Responses in MSNA during isometric handgrip (SCAD: Δ12±8 vs CON: Δ9±8 bursts/100 heartbeats, p=0.536) and post-exercise ischemia (SCAD: Δ11±2 vs CON: Δ13±10 bursts/100 heartbeats, p=0.713) also were not different between groups. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that compared to healthy females, female patients who experienced a SCAD exhibit greater pressor, but not chronotropic or sympathetic, responses to isometric handgrip and post-exercise ischemia. Exaggerated pressor responses to these perturbations may be a potential risk factor for SCAD (re)occurrence. NIH K23 HL155506, NIH T32 DK07352, NIH K01 HL148144, NIH UL1 TR0022377, and AHA 898649. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Augmented pressor responses to mental stress in females with spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) causes acute coronary syndrome or sudden cardiac death due to a separation of arterial wall layers. The majority of patients with SCAD are females (&gt;80%) with few to no traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Though the physiological mechanisms that predispose to SCAD are unknown, common triggers for SCAD events include sympathoexcitatory stimuli, such as mental and emotional stress. Additionally, studies report high prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with SCAD. Our study aimed to investigate cardiovascular responses to mental stress in patients with SCAD. We hypothesized that patients with SCAD would have exaggerated cardiovascular responses to mental stress compared to healthy controls. Methods: Four female patients with SCAD were age-, and BMI-matched with 4 healthy females. Participants underwent 2 minutes of baseline quiet rest, a 5-minute Stroop Color Word Test to induce mental stress, followed by 2 minutes of recovery. Continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP, finger photoplethysmography) and heart rate (HR, 3-lead ECG) were recorded. Venous occlusion plethysmography was used to measure forearm blood flow (FBF). Forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated as FBF/mean BP×100. Data are presented as change from baseline (Δmean±SD). Group data were compared using independent samples t-tests. Results: Resting hemodynamic parameters (Systolic [SBP], Diastolic [DBP], and Mean BP [MBP], Pulse pressure [PP], and HR) and FVC were similar between groups. Patients with SCAD had greater increases in DBP (Δ12±5 vs. Δ1±5 mmHg, p=0.02) and PP (Δ5±3 vs. Δ-7±8 mmHg, p=0.04) during the last minute of mental stress test compared to controls. Although, there were no differences in the changes of SBP (Δ17±7 vs. Δ-1±13 mmHg, p=0.05), MBP (Δ13±6 vs. Δ3±8 mmHg, p=0.08), HR (Δ8±0 vs. Δ10±2 bpm, p=0.12), or FVC (Δ1.5±1.2 vs. Δ1.8±1.3 ml/min/100 mmHg, p=0.80) between groups. During the last minute of recovery, there were no differences in hemodynamic parameters (SBP: Δ6±9 vs. Δ-4±10 mmHg, p=0.23; DBP: Δ2±7 vs. Δ-3±2 mmHg, p=0.22; MBP: Δ3±7 vs. Δ-3±5 mmHg, p=0.22; PP: Δ4±5 vs. Δ-1±8 mmHg, p= 0.35; HR: Δ-1±3 vs. Δ0±3 bpm, p=0.64), or FVC (Δ1.3±1.7 vs. Δ0.5±0.3 ml/min/100 mmHg, p= 0.35) between groups. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that patients with SCAD have greater increases in DBP and PP in response to mental stress compared to healthy controls. These exaggerated pressor responses might have implications for the pathophysiology of SCAD. NIH K23 HL155506, T32 DK07352, K01 HL148144, UL1 TR0022377, and AHA 898649. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Abstract 1102: Post Gwas Functional Genomics Analysis To Identify Non-coding Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Controlling The Risk Of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Background: Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is a non-atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and the leading cause of acute myocardial infarction in young females. SCAD results from the combination of genetic susceptibility and acquired triggering factors including inflammation and sex hormones. Three loci have been revealed by two large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in SCAD. However, GWAS only reveals the statistical associations between the genetic loci and diseases, and the biological mechanisms remain unknown. Methods: GWAS-reported tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the linked haplotype SNPs were collected. Synthesized oligonucleotides representing the SNP alleles were subjected to electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) with nuclear proteins extracted from vascular endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts. Hi-C analysis was performed to predict the potential target gene(s) based on chromatin interactions. The functionality of the SNP-associated target genes was examined in cultured vascular cells by RNA silencing. Results: The risk allele of tag SNPs in three genetic loci (chr1q21.2, 6p24.11 and 12q13.1) were associated with 1.5 to 1.8-fold higher risk of SCAD. Intronic, non-tag SNP rs7549396 (G/A) in chr1q21.2 locus was identified as the functional SNP in EMSA, given its consistent allele-imbalanced gel shifting pattern in ECs, SMCs and fibroblasts. Hi-C analysis in human aortic tissue identified a 490kb long-range chromatin interaction between SNP rs7549396 and the promoter of Annexin A9 (ANXA9), an extracellular matrix (ECM) and an inflammation-related protein potentially associated with the pathogenesis of SCAD. The knockdown of ANXA9 in vascular cells showed significant changes in inflammatory makers (IL-1β, vCAM-1 and CCL-2) and ECM degradation enzyme (MMP-1). Conclusions: Leveraging our post-GWAS functional genomics approach, we identified functional non-coding SNPs in disease-associated genetic locus and predicted a novel potential pathogenic gene ANXA9 for SCAD. Further studies on the functions of this SNP and its associated target gene ANXA9 will provide genetics and mechanistic explanation for this mysterious disease.

A-36 | In-hospital Outcomes of PCI in patients admitted for spontaneous coronary artery dissection (From a National Population-Based Cohort Study Between 2016-2020)

A-36 | In-hospital Outcomes of PCI in patients admitted for spontaneous coronary artery dissection (From a National Population-Based Cohort Study Between 2016-2020)

A-33 | Title: Genetic Susceptibility to Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Insights from Monozygotic Twins

A-33 | Title: Genetic Susceptibility to Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Insights from Monozygotic Twins

A case of coronary dissection complicating intravascular lithotripsy

Abstract A middle-aged male suffering from diabetes developed severe coronary artery dissection soon after 40 pulses of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) with a 2.5 mm × 12 mm balloon inflated at 4–6 atmospheres. The patient developed chest discomfort accompanied by bradycardia. The dissection was successfully promptly treated with the insertion of a 2.75 mm × 18 mm everolimus-eluting stent. Coronary dissection following IVL, although uncommon, is not rare, and therefore, the operator should look out for this complication.

Two case reports of spontaneous coronary dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has nowadays been described as a non-negligible etiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Its prevalence approximates 3% in most cohorts. It mainly affects women in the young to middle-aged range. Individuals with SCAD typically exhibit fewer conventional cardiovascular risk factors associated with ischemic heart disease compared to those with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Nevertheless, some SCAD patients may present with risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia, although their direct contribution to SCAD risk remains uncertain. We present two cases of spontaneous coronary dissection to explore its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options. Learning objectives · Recognize spontaneous coronary artery dissection as the possible cause of ACS in females even with cardiovascular risk factors. Learn the importance of angiographic control after a conservative therapy that may lead to a more invasive approach.

Safety considerations in the treatment with anti-CGRP(R) monoclonal antibodies in patients with migraine.

Anti-CGRP-(receptor-)monoclonal antibodies (anti-CGRP(R)-mAbs) represent a novel class of drugs for migraine treatment, but their long-term cerebrovascular and cardiovascular (CV) safety warrants further examination. In this observational cohort study we assessed the CV safety for erenumab and fremanezumab in a real-world setting during a follow-up period of at least 1 year. Patients with hypertension or CV history were excluded. We conducted ECGs and collected clinical data at treatment initiation and thereafter every 3 months, including liver and kidney function, lipid-, electrolyte-and glucose levels. Among patients receiving erenumab (n = 101) or fremanezumab (n = 92), 3.1% (6/193) developed abnormal ECGs or CV adverse events. Of these, three (1.6%) experienced moderate to severe CV adverse events (cerebellar stroke, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, and pericarditis) and discontinued treatment. The remaining three (1.6%) developed non-threatening ECG abnormalities without physical complaints. No significant changes were observed in liver and kidney function, lipid-, electrolyte-, or glucose levels. We observed CV events in 1.6% of patients with 1.5-year follow-up of anti-CGRP(R)-mAbs treatment. We advise awareness regarding CV events in patients with migraine undergoing CGRP-targeted treatment, not as a confirmation of increased risk but as a proactive measure to address potential multifactorial influences.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection outcomes among pregnant vs. non-pregnant women.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has become increasingly recognized. It accounts for <1-4% of acute coronary syndrome presentations. Overall, however, it makes up over 40% of pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction. Furthermore, pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (P-SCAD) is described to have a greater degree of clinical manifestations, including left ventricular dysfunction, shock, and left main or multivessel involvement. The findings are disconcerting, though many studies evaluating P-SCAD are based on case series data or are single centre studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate a larger national dataset to evaluate the outcomes of SCAD and specifically P-SCAD in an attempt to better characterize the severity and clinical nature of this condition. To conduct this study, we analysed the National Readmission Database from January 2016 to December 2020. Propensity matching was done using the Greedy 1:1 method. Multivariate logistics and time-to-event Cox regression analysis models were built by including all confounders significantly associated with the outcome on univariable analysis with a cut-off P-value of 0.2. In multivariate regression analysis, P-SCAD patients had a non-propensity matched odds ratio (OR) of 0.21 (0.3-1.54, P = 0.123) of dying and a propensity matched OR of 0.11 (0.02-0.61, P = 0.012) of dying. Thirty-day readmission rate for P-SCAD was 15.8% (n = 93) and for non-pregnant spontaneous coronary artery dissection (NP-SCAD) was 11.2% (n = 2286); non-propensity matched OR for readmission for PSCAD patients was 1.68 (1.24-2.29, P = 0.001) and propensity matched OR was 3.39 (1.93-5.97, P < 0.001). Among hospitalized patient, P-SCAD was associated with similar clinical outcomes and reduced incidence of death when compared with NP-SCAD, though had higher rates of 30-day readmission. Larger-scale observational data will be needed to ascertain the true incidence of cardiovascular complications as it relates to P-SCAD.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Young Female: A Complex Case of Diagnosis and Treatment Dilemma

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Young Female: A Complex Case of Diagnosis and Treatment Dilemma

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a young woman with signs of connective tissue dysplasia and hereditary thrombophilia: clinical case

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a disease that develops unrelated to intracoronary intervention, atherosclerosis, aortic dissection, or mechanical trauma and causes a false lumen (intramural hematoma) in the wall of the coronary artery (CA) with impaired blood flow in it and myocardial ischemia in the affected region of the CA. SCAD most often develops in young and middle-aged adults (aged ≤50 years); among women, it becomes the culprit in 24%–35% of cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI). SCAD is a risk factor for MI, and incorrect interpretation of the angiographic picture and intravascular imaging methods can lead to incorrect tactics of patient behavior.&#x0D; CLINICAL CASE DESCRIPTION: This article presents a clinical case of SCAD leading to the development of MI in a young woman with concomitant connective tissue dysplasia and hereditary thrombophilia. The angiographic disease course resembled focal atherosclerosis, and in the course of invasive management, complications had arisen, confirming the probable genesis of coronary artery obstruction.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: SCAD is a complex disease, with a sudden onset and an ambiguous prognosis. In most cases, SCAD develops in young women in the absence of cardiovascular factors. It is difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms are similar to more common diseases, mainly MI. SCAD can masquerade as focal stenosis on an angiogram, mimicking an atherosclerotic plaque. The «gold standard» for diagnosing SCAD is optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT enables the visualization of the state of all coronary artery walls and elucidates the pathogenetic mechanisms of MI. If performing OCT is impossible after diagnostic coronary angiography in young patients in suspected cases, the likelihood of DST and SCAD risk must be assessed to avoid errors in choosing treatments. The technical accessibility of intracoronary imaging methods reduces the frequency of diagnostic and, consequently, treatment errors.

What Causes Premature Coronary Artery Disease?

This review provides an overview of genetic and non-genetic causes of premature coronary artery disease (pCAD). pCAD refers to coronary artery disease (CAD) occurring before the age of 65years in women and 55years in men. Both genetic and non-genetic risk factors may contribute to the onset of pCAD. Recent advances in the genetic epidemiology of pCAD have revealed the importance of both monogenic and polygenic contributions to pCAD. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common monogenic disorder associated with atherosclerotic pCAD. However, clinical overreliance on monogenic genes can result in overlooked genetic causes of pCAD, especially polygenic contributions. Non-genetic factors, notably smoking and drug use, are also important contributors to pCAD. Cigarette smoking has been observed in 25.5% of pCAD patients relative to 12.2% of non-pCAD patients. Finally, myocardial infarction (MI) associated with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) may result in similar clinical presentations as atherosclerotic pCAD. Recognizing the genetic and non-genetic causes underlying pCAD is important for appropriate prevention and treatment. Despite recent progress, pCAD remains incompletely understood, highlighting the need for both awareness and research.

Spontan Coronary Artery Dissection: What a Surprise

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a less recognized form of acute coronary syndrome, often observed in young female patients. Knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of SCAD has increased in recent years, yet gaps in treatment persist. Herein, we present the case of an 18-year-old male student, who, without a regular exercise habit, started a football match on a rug without prior warm-up and experienced exertional chest discomfort, leading him to present to the emergency department with crushing chest pain. The patient, with ST elevation noted, underwent angiography, revealing SCAD in the left anterior descending artery. Managed conservatively, the patient was discharged on the 4th day with successful outcomes. Distinguishing between SCAD and coronary artery occlusion can be challenging, particularly in young patients without any medical history. Moreover, conservative treatment can prevent unnecessary percutaneous coronary intervention and potential complications.

Spontanous coronary artery dissection: A case report

Spontanous coronary artery dissection: A case report

TCTAP C-105 A Twist in the Story: Iatrogenic Catheter-Induced Coronary Artery Dissection

TCTAP C-105 A Twist in the Story: Iatrogenic Catheter-Induced Coronary Artery Dissection

Acute interventional management of spontaneous coronary artery dissection: case series and literature review

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) treatment is currently a matter of debate as scarce data are available for the interventional cardiologists. In the present review, we introduce 4 representative clinical scenarios in which different interventional strategies were carried out. Subsequently, we discuss different tools and useful techniques for the treatment of SCAD, presenting the advantages and drawbacks of the conservative approach versus percutaneous coronary intervention with drug eluting stent or bioresorbable scaffolds implantation, and/or cutting balloon angioplasty.

Assessing the impact of tear direction in coronary artery dissection on thrombosis development: A hemodynamic computational study

ObjectiveIatrogenic coronary artery dissection is a complication of coronary intimal injury and dissection due to improper catheter manipulation. The impact of tear direction on the prognosis of coronary artery dissection (CAD) remains unclear. This study examines the hemodynamic effects of different tear directions (transverse and longitudinal) of CAD and evaluates the risk of thrombosis, rupture and further dilatation of CAD. MethodsTwo types of CAD models (Type I: transverse tear, Type II: longitudinal tear) were reconstructed from the aorto-coronary CTA dataset of 8 healthy cases. Four WSS-based indicators were analyzed, including time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and cross flow index (CFI). A thrombus growth model was also introduced to predict the trend of thrombus growth in CAD with two different tear directions. ResultsFor most of the WSS-based indicators, including TAWSS, RRT, and CFI, no statistically significant differences were observed across the CAD models with varying tear directions, except for OSI, where a significant difference was noted (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in terms of thrombus growth, the thrombus growing at the tear of the Type I (transverse tear) CAD model extended into the true lumen earlier than that of the Type II (longitudinal tear) model. ConclusionsNumerical simulations suggest that: (1) The CAD with transverse tear have a high risk of further tearing of the dissection at the distal end of the tear. (2) The CAD with longitudinal tear create a hemodynamic environment characterized by low TAWSS and high OSI in the false lumen, which may additionally increase the risk of vessel wall injury. (3) The CAD with transverse tear may have a higher risk of thrombosis and coronary obstruction and myocardial ischemia in the early phase of the dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a focus on post-dissection care for the vascular medicine clinician.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon condition which is increasingly recognized as a cause of significant morbidity. SCAD can cause acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction (MI), as well as sudden cardiac death. It presents similarly to atherosclerotic MI although typically in patients with few or no atherosclerotic risk factors, and particularly in women. As more patients are recognized to have this condition, there is a great need for clinician familiarity with diagnostic criteria, as well as with contemporary treatment approaches, and with appropriate patient-centered counseling, including genetic testing, exercise recommendations, and psychological care. The standard of care for patients with SCAD is rapidly evolving. This review therefore summarizes the diagnosis of SCAD, epidemiology, modern treatment, cardiac rehabilitation and preconception counseling, and the current approach to genetic testing, exercise recommendations, and psychological care, all of which are crucial to the vascular medicine specialist.

Concurrent spontaneous coronary dissection and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome during postnatal care.

Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) are rare conditions that may occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The coexistence of both diseases may pose a risk to patients, potentially resulting in a variety of complications and clinical manifestations. This is considered the first case of a patient who successfully recovered from a critical condition in the postpartum period, with contemporaneous SCAD and RCVS. A 33-year-old female with no known medical history was referred to the emergency department after experiencing cardiac arrest, which occurred 1 week after giving birth to her third child. She complained of sudden anterior squeezing chest pain, accompanied by a headache, and eventually collapsed due to ventricular fibrillation with seizure. She was successfully resuscitated after receiving basic life support. She showed an alert mentality and did not experience any further seizure events or additional neurological symptoms. Although vital sign remained stable, the level of highly sensitive troponin I was significantly elevated. Electrocardiography revealed sinus rhythm with T-wave inversion at V1-4, while chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated severe aspiration pneumonia. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit due to a high requirement of O2 supply. A consultation with the neurologic department and a brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were conducted for the thunderclap headache. The brain MRA demonstrated stenosis in the basilar artery, the right M2 segment, and bilateral A1 segments, along with sulcal hyperintensity on post-contrast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) suggesting blood-brain barrier breakdown due to vasoconstriction. Formal echocardiography showed regional wall motion abnormality in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory. After the improvement of pneumonia, a coronary angiography was performed, revealing diffuse luminal narrowing from the mid to distal LAD due to a long segmental, extensive dissection. We decided to maintain the medical therapy. A follow-up coronary CT angiography performed 6months later revealed complete remission of the dissected coronary vessel, and a brain MRA checked 3months later showed resolved vasoconstriction of the relevant cerebral vessels. The physicians must be aware of pregnancy-associated complications in certain patients. Clear diagnoses and proper treatments are required in pregnant patients who may be exposed to multiple acute conditions, in order to reduce complications and achieve favorable outcomes.