Important Cause Of Myocardial Infarction Research Articles

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Presenting as Electrical Storm: A Case Report.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction in patients of younger age without typical atherosclerotic risk factors and can present with ventricular arrhythmia such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Electrical storm (ES) is defined as greater than or equal to 3 episodes of VT or VF occurring within 24 hours. A healthy 38-year-old-male developed chest pain while exercising at the gym and presented to the emergency department unresponsive in a ventricular arrhythmia defined as ES. The patient's cardiac arrest was initially refractory to standard defibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support medications. He was ultimately diagnosed with SCAD of the left anterior descending artery, which was stented. The patient survived neurologically intact after a 13-day hospital stay. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a significant cause of acute coronary syndrome and occurs in healthier patients without cardiac risk factors. Electrical storm represents a unique manifestation of SCAD. Emergency physicians should maintain a heightened suspicion for SCAD for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Left main and three vessels spontaneous coronary artery dissection as an incidental finding in young man with history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma-a case report

BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare and important cause of myocardial infarction, especially in young women without other coronary artery disease. This arterial dissection can occur within or between any of the 3 layers.Its predisposing factors include connective tissue diseases (Marfone syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Kawasaki disease), atherosclerosis and fibromuscular dysplasia.Clinical presentations of spontaneous coronary artery dissection are wide spectrum from asymptomatic to acute coronary disease, sustained ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.Case presentationWe describe A 33-year-old man with history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma five years earlier that became a candidate for Patent foramen ovale closure due to recurrent embolic cerebrovascular accident. Before the intervention, coronary angiography incidentally showed dissection in the left main and all major coronary arteries.ConclusionsBased on our hypothesis, chemoradiotherapy-induced arteriopathies could be consider as a predisposing factor for spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Variability of time to healing of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection assessed through coronary CT angiography

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) results from a spontaneous, non-traumatic, and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall by intramural hematoma caused by intimal tear or spontaneous hemorrhage that is unrelated to atherosclerosis. SCAD is an important cause of myocardial infarction particularly in young to middle-aged women. Natural history of this condition is poorly understood: spontaneous healing has been demonstrated through coronary angiography in the vast majority of patients at long term follow up, but the timing of healing is still not clear. Nowadays, Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is emerging as a noninvasive option to evaluate SCAD healing at least for coronary arteries with diameter ≥2mm and could help in understanding the natural history of this condition. Methods In this single-centre, retrospective study, patients affected by SCAD between 2017 and 2022 were included. Patients with SCAD involving coronary arteries with diameter ≥2mm who did not undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and underwent to at least one CCTA during follow up were evaluated with regard to evolution of SCAD and time to healing. Results Among 93 patients for whom diagnosis of SCAD was posed by coronary angiography, 33 conservatively managed patients (84.8% female, mean age 51.8±12.3 years) underwent to at least one CCTA during follow up. At a median time of 49 days (IQR 13 to 82 days), a complete healing of SCAD was demonstrated in 6 patients (18.2%), while most of the patients showed a stability or partial healing and 1 patient (3.0%) an extension of SCAD. During further follow up, of 10 patients who did not show a significant healing at the first CCTA, 4 patients showed a complete healing, while 6 patients showed a stability of SCAD extension or only partial healing at the longest available CCTA follow up (median follow up 191 days, IQR 96 to 249 days). As regards clinical events, no death, myocardial infarctions, or target vessel PCIs were reported during follow up. Conclusion Spontaneous healing is commonly seen in SCAD and can be demonstrated by CCTA. However, the timing of complete healing is largely variable between individuals: therefore, studies focusing factors impacting natural history of SCAD are needed.

Long-axial field-of-view PET/CT for the assessment of inflammation in calcified coronary artery plaques with [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC

PurposeInflamed, prone-to-rupture coronary plaques are an important cause of myocardial infarction and their early identification is crucial. Atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by overexpression of the type-2 somatostatin receptor (SST2) in activated macrophages. SST2 ligand imaging (e.g. with [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC) has shown promise in detecting and quantifying the inflammatory activity within atherosclerotic plaques. However, the sensitivity of standard axial field of view (SAFOV) PET scanners may be suboptimal for imaging coronary arteries. Long-axial field of view (LAFOV) PET/CT scanners may help overcome this limitation. We aim to assess the ability of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC LAFOV-PET/CT in detecting calcified, SST2 overexpressing coronary artery plaques.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 108 oncological patients underwent [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT on a LAFOV system. [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC uptake and calcifications in the coronary arteries were evaluated visually and semi-quantitatively. Data on patients’ cardiac risk factors and coronary artery calcium score were also collected. Patients were followed up for 21.5 ± 3.4 months.ResultsA total of 66 patients (61.1%) presented with calcified coronary artery plaques. Of these, 32 patients had increased [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC uptake in at least one coronary vessel (TBR: 1.65 ± 0.53). Patients with single-vessel calcifications showed statistically significantly lower uptake (SUVmax 1.10 ± 0.28) compared to patients with two- (SUVmax 1.31 ± 0.29, p < 0.01) or three-vessel calcifications (SUVmax 1.24 ± 0.33, p < 0.01). There was a correlation between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC uptake, especially in the LAD (p = 0.02). Stroke and all-cause death occurred more frequently in patients with increased [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC uptake (15.63% vs. 0%; p:0.001 and 21.88% vs. 6.58%; p: 0.04, respectively) during the follow-up period.Conclusion[68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC as a marker for the macrophage activity can reveal unknown cases of inflamed calcified coronary artery plaques using a LAFOV PET system. [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC uptake increased with the degree of calcification and correlated with higher risk of stroke and all-cause death. [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC LAFOV PET/CT may be useful to assess patients’ cardiovascular risk.

Abstract P410: Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Intervention With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): A Population Based Study 2016-2019

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) remains an important cause of myocardial infarction. A paucity of data exists regarding optimal management of SCAD due to lack of randomized trials comparing medical therapy and revascularization strategies. Methods: Data were extracted from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2016-2019 Database. The NIS was searched for hospitalizations for adult patients with SCAD as principal discharge diagnosis with and without intervention with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as secondary diagnosis using ICD-10 codes. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analysis was used accordingly to adjust for confounders. STATA software was used for analysis. Results: 2,400 patients who had SCAD were divided into those that had PCI versus those who did not-- followed by matching. Majority of the patient population was noted to be females (76.9%) and mean age was a 54.63 years. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for inpatient mortality for SCAD with PCI intervention showed significantly reduced mortality (OR 0.32, p&lt;0.01), which was statistically significant. Hospital length of stay (LOS) was less (-1.23 days, p&lt;0.04) and total hospital charges were lower (-$3,697.02, p&lt;0.03) in this patient population. The only independent positive predictor of increased mortality for the SCAD and PCI intervention group was acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR 4.99, p&lt;0.001). Independent positive predictors of hospital LOS were the following: cardiogenic shock (4.14 days, p&lt;0.01), AKI (4.99 days, p&lt;0.01), ventricular arrhythmias (3.53 days, p&lt;0.01), and systolic heart failure (2.84 days, p&lt;0.03). Independent positive predictors for total charges were the following: cardiogenic shock ($108,113.9, p&lt;0.015), ventricular arrhythmias ($109,009.6, p&lt;0.04), AKI ($107.635.7, p&lt;0.003), atrial flutter ($134,619.3, p&lt;0.042). Conclusion: Previous studies showed that the majority of patients with SCAD except those with high risk should have a conservative revascularization strategy. Our study shows decreased mortality, hospital LOS, and total charges for patients with SCAD who had intervention with PCI. Randomized clinical trials will need to further examine the role of PCI for SCAD in different populations.

What do spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivors want to support their recovery? A qualitative study.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognised as an important cause of myocardial infarction predominantly affecting women aged under 50 years. There is limited research addressing female and male SCAD survivors' experience of, or requirements for, support post-SCAD. This study explored what SCAD survivors wanted to support recovery. A qualitative study using semi-structured video and telephone interviews. Data were analysed through thematic analysis using the framework approach. We interviewed 20 participants (19 females) with a mean age of 54.6 (+/-SD 8.5 years). Three overarching themes encapsulated participants' views about support requirements. 1) Education and information. Participants thought healthcare professionals involved in diagnosis and supporting recovery required greater awareness of SCAD and the psychological effect of SCAD. They wanted accessible SCAD information immediately post-event and during the educational component of cardiac rehabilitation. 2) Physical Activity. Requirements were for advice tailored to individuals' specific needs, physical capabilities, and physical activity preferences. Participants suggested that utilising wearable technology was helpful to encourage a safe return to activity. 3) Psychosocial Support. Participants wanted formal psychosocial support immediately post-event, during cardiac rehabilitation and in the longer term. Better healthcare professional training may improve diagnosis and increase support and awareness of SCAD. SCAD support programmes should provide early SCAD specific education utilising online sources, individually tailor physical activity prescription, offer wearable technology to support a return to being active, and provide short- and longer-term psychosocial support. As SCAD is predominately a female condition, programmes should consider female physical activity preferences.

Automatic segmentation of ultrasound images of carotid atherosclerotic plaque based on Dense-UNet.

Carotid atherosclerosis plaque rupture is an important cause of myocardial infarction and stroke. The effective segmentation of ultrasound images of carotid atherosclerotic plaques aids clinicians to accurately assess plaque stability. At present, this procedure relies mainly on the experience of the medical practitioner to manually segment the ultrasound image of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque. This method is also time-consuming. This study intends to establish an automatic intelligent segmentation method of ultrasound images of carotid plaque. The present study combined the U-Net and DenseNet networks, to automatically segment the ultrasound images of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The same test set was selected and segmented using the traditional U-Net network and the ResUNet network. The prediction results of the three network models were compared using Dice (Dice similarity coefficient), and VOE (volumetric overlap error) coefficients. Compared with the existing U-Net network and ResUNet network, the Dense-UNet network exhibited an optimal effect on the automated segmentation of the ultrasound images. The Dense-UNet network could realize the automatic segmentation of atherosclerotic plaque ultrasound images, and it could assist medical practitioners in plaque evaluation.

Differences in Revascularization Strategy and Outcomes by Clinical Presentations in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI). However, the role of revascularization for SCAD according to presentation remains unclear. We analyzed patients with SCAD who presented acutely and were participating in the Canadian SCAD Cohort Study. We compared revascularization strategy and clinical outcomes (in-hospital major adverse events and major adverse cardiovascular event [MACE] including recurrent MI at 1-year) in patients with SCAD presenting with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) vs unstable angina or non-STEMI (UA-NSTEMI). Among 750 patients with SCAD (mean 51.7 ± 10.5years; 88.5% were women; median follow-up was 373 days), 234 (31.2%) presented with STEMI. More patients with SCAD-STEMI (27.8%) were treated with revascularization (98.5% percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) compared with 8.7% of patients with UA-NSTEMI (93.3% PCI). For patients with SCAD and STEMI, 93.9% were planned procedures vs 71.1% for UA-NSTEMI. Successful or partially successful PCI was 65.5% for STEMI and 76.9% for UA-NSTEMI (P < 0.001). In revascularized patients, 1-year MACE was not different between STEMI and UA-NSTEMI. Revascularization was associated with higher in-hospital major adverse events and its association was more prominent in UA-NSTEMI (STEMI: 26.2% vs 10.7%, P < 0.001; UA-NSTEMI: 37.8% vs 3.6%, P < 0.001). The difference in adverse events according to revascularization diminished over time and was not evident at 1 year. Despite higher in-hospital events with revascularization in patients with SCAD, and higher revascularization with SCAD-STEMI, 1-year MACE was not different compared with UA-NSTEMI. This is reassuring, as revascularization may be required for ongoing ischemia at the time of initial presentation in STEMI-SCAD, and emphasizes the need for careful patient selection for revascularization in UA-NSTEMI.

Abstract 14695: Prevalence of Extracoronary Vascular Abnormalities Among Patients With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: A Look at Scad Across the Lifespan

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction in young women; however, SCAD has also been described in older patients. Differences in SCAD presentation, cardiovascular risk factors, presence of extracoronary vascular abnormalities (EVAs), and management across the lifespan have been understudied. Methods: Single-center cohort study of consecutive patients seen in a dedicated SCAD clinic. Medical history, radiographic, and angiographic data were collected. All patients underwent brain to pelvis CTA imaging to evaluate for EVAs. Patients were stratified into three age groups: 20-40, 40-60, and ≥60 years. Differences among age groups were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis tests for continuous variables and Pearson Chi-squared tests or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. Results: 193 patients met inclusion criteria, 94.3% women. Prevalence of hypertension (14.8%, 42.6%, and 60%, p&lt;0.001) and dyslipidemia (11.1%, 37.4%, and 53.3%, p&lt;0.001) increased with age. Precipitating factors were significantly different among age groups (p&lt;0.001) with usual exertion more commonly seen in the older cohort (25.5%, 39%, 73.3%). Peripartum SCAD (40%, 2.5%, 0%) and female sex (94.5%, 95.9%, 80%) were more commonly seen in the younger cohort (p&lt;0.001). Younger patients were more frequently discharged on anticoagulation (10.9%, 0.8%, 0%, p&lt;0.004). There were no significant differences in SCAD presentation, vessel involvement, SCAD management, and EVA prevalence. Procedural complications were not different. Conclusions: Older women who develop SCAD have more typical risk factors for ACS including hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Clinical presentation, vessel distribution, and management of SCAD do not vary across age groups. The prevalence of arteriopathies is high and similar across age groups, underscoring the importance of the evaluation for EVAs following SCAD in patients of all ages.

Canadian Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Cohort Study: 3-Year Outcomes

BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in young to middle-aged women. ObjectivesWe aim to define the long-term natural history of SCAD. MethodsWe performed a multicenter, prospective, observational study of patients with nonatherosclerotic SCAD presenting acutely from 22 North American centers. We recorded baseline demographics, in-hospital characteristics, precipitating and predisposing conditions, angiographic features (adjudicated), in-hospital and 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Cox regression multivariable analysis was performed. ResultsWe prospectively enrolled 750 consecutive patients with SCAD from June 2014 to June 2018. Mean age was 51.7 ± 10.5 years, 88.5% were women (55.0% postmenopausal); 31.3% presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and 68.3% with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Precipitating emotional stressor was reported in 50.3%, and physical stressor in 28.9%. Predisposing conditions included fibromuscular dysplasia in 42.9% (56.4% in those with complete screening), peripartum state 4.5%, and genetic disorders 1.6%. Most patients were treated conservatively (84.3%); 14.1% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 0.7% coronary artery bypass graft. At 3.0-year median follow-up, mortality was 0.8%, recurrent MI 9.9% (extension of previous SCAD 3.5%, de novo recurrent SCAD 2.4%, iatrogenic dissection 1.9%), with overall MACE 14.0%. Presence of genetic disorders, peripartum SCAD, and extracoronary fibromuscular dysplasia were independent predictors of 3-year MACE. Patients who underwent PCI at index hospitalization had similar postdischarge MACE compared with no PCI. At 3 years, 80.0% remained on aspirin and 73.5% on beta-blockade. ConclusionsLong-term mortality and de novo recurrent SCAD was low in our contemporary large SCAD cohort that included low revascularization rate and high use of beta-blockade and aspirin. Genetic disorders, extracoronary fibromuscular dysplasia, and peripartum SCAD were independent predictors of long-term MACE.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection; a systematic review of physical and psychosocial recovery following discharge from hospital

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Edinburgh Napier University Introduction Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognised as an important cause of myocardial infarction, particularly among women. SCAD survivors may not know what physical activity is safe and effective and there may be a psychosocial burden of living with a SCAD diagnosis. This review aimed to determine the evidence regarding physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, or associated factors, and the psychosocial impact of SCAD for SCAD survivors after hospital discharge. Methods A systematic review completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines Results The review included 28 studies. These used a range of methods. None were randomised controlled trials. There were 4167 SCAD participants although some were sourced from the same SCAD registries, so may not be unique. They were mainly female (n=3897 93.5%, range=57.7%-100%), with mean age 48.0±9.8 years at index event. Participants mostly came from the USA, Canada, or the Netherlands. We found very limited evidence for cardiorespiratory fitness improvements following cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Existing CR was not tailored to SCAD specific needs and SCAD survivors lacked guidance about appropriate physical activity. Some participants had high levels of psychosocial distress. SCAD survivors highlighted the need for tailored support that included family members. Many SCAD survivors have traditional risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and overweight/obesity. Chest pain following SCAD is common. Conclusions There is an urgent need to develop physical and psychological recovery programmes for SCAD survivors, and test effectiveness via randomised controlled trials. Psychosocial support is particularly required, given the high burden of psychosocial issues.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a systematic review of physical and psychosocial recovery following discharge from hospital.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognized as an important cause of myocardial infarction, particularly among women. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivors may not know what physical activity is safe and effective, and there may be a psychosocial burden of living with a SCAD diagnosis. This review aimed to determine the evidence regarding physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, or associated factors, and the psychosocial impact of SCAD for SCAD survivors after hospital discharge. A systematic review was completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We searched Medline, Embase, CinAHL, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar until November 2021. Outcomes of interest were physical activity participation levels, cardiovascular risk factors and associated risk factors, and psychosocial recovery from SCAD. We included any study (qualitative or quantitative) that reported data pertinent to understanding the impact of SCAD on physical activity and psychosocial aspects of recovery. We also included papers that reported cardiovascular risk or associated risk factors where studies reported outcomes of SCAD survivors. We excluded papers that only provided information on in-hospital management. Any reports that were non-empirical were excluded. The review included 28 studies. These used a range of methods. None were randomized controlled trials. There were 4167 SCAD participants although some were sourced from the same SCAD registries, so they may not be unique. They were mainly female (n = 3897, 93.5%, range = 57.7-100%), with mean age 48.0 ± 9.8 years at index event. Participants mostly came from the USA, Canada, or The Netherlands. We found very limited evidence for cardiorespiratory fitness improvements following cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Existing CR was not tailored to SCAD specific needs and SCAD survivors lacked guidance about appropriate physical activity. Some participants had high levels of psychosocial distress. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivors highlighted the need for tailored support that included family members. Many SCAD survivors have traditional risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and overweight/obesity. Chest pain following SCAD is common. There is an urgent need to develop physical and psychological recovery programmes for SCAD survivors and test effectiveness via randomized controlled trials. Psychosocial support is particularly required, given the high burden of psychosocial issues. Prospero CRD42021254798.

Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Objectives To compare outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) patients versus conservative therapy. Background SCAD is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in young-to-middle-aged women. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is often pursued, but outcomes compared to conservative therapy are unclear. Methods 403 nonatherosclerotic SCAD patients were enrolled between 2011 and 2017 and prospectively followed up in our Vancouver General Hospital registries. Detailed baseline, hospital, PCI, and outcomes were recorded. We explored the outcomes of SCAD patients who underwent PCI during their initial presentation. Results PCI was performed in 75 patients, the average age was 48.9 ± 10.1 yrs, and 94.7% were women. All presented with MI; 50.7% STEMI, 49.3% NSTEMI, and 13.3% had VT/VF. PCI was successful in 34.7%, partially successful in 37.3%, and unsuccessful in 28.0%. Stents were deployed in 73.3%, 16.0% had balloon angioplasty alone, 10.7% had wiring attempts only, and 5.3% required bailout surgery. Major adverse cardiovascular event rates (MACE) were significantly higher with the PCI group in hospital (29.3% versus 2.8%, p < 0.001), and at median follow-up of 3.7 yrs (58.7% versus 22.6% (p < 0.001) compared to the non-PCI group. Conclusion PCI in SCAD patients was associated with high failure rate and MACE in hospital and at long-term follow-up. These findings support the recommendation of conservative therapy as first-line management unless high-risk features are present.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Anomalous Coronary Origin – Underlying Cause of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Young Woman: A Case Report

Abstract Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) represents a very rare and poorly understood condition that is gaining recognition as an important cause of myocardial infarction, especially among young women. The pathogenesis of SCAD is not well established yet, but several theories have been proposed. Case presentation: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman without any history of cardiovascular disease who presented with acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to the luminal obstruction generated by an intramural hematoma from a SCAD of the left main coronary artery, which was successfully treated by coronary artery stenting. Additionally, the patient presented anomalies of coronary origins (ACO) with separate emergences of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery from the left coronary cusp and the left circumflex artery (LCX) from the right coronary cusp, with no apparent clinical significance. Conclusion: SCAD should always be included in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with STEMI. In case of prompt diagnosis, SCAD-STEMI patients are successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Moreover, it is of vital importance to identify variants of ACO, even without clinical relevance at the moment of the acute event, in order to initiate an appropriate management, since ACO increases the risk of routine PCI.

Spontane Koronararteriendissektion

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection Abstract. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized etiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and an important cause of myocardial infarction in women. First described in 1931, SCAD is defined as a spontaneous tear in a coronary artery that is not associated with atherosclerosis, trauma or medical intervention. SCAD predominantly affects younger women, who often lack atherosclerotic risk factors. Some risk factors that have been identified include female sex, pregnancy, severe emotional or physical stress, underlying blood vessel diseases such as fibromuscular dysplasia, and connective tissue diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan syndrome. Previously believed to be rare, a chiefly fatal condition, recent epidemiological data suggests SCAD is accountable for up to 4 % of all ACS cases and up to 35 % of ACS cases in women < 50 years of age. There is a lack of awareness of SCAD among physicians, which probably results in underreporting and underdiagnosing of this disorder. The clinical presentation of SCAD is often similar to that of ACS making differentiation at first presentation difficult. Cardiac enzymes are elevated like in ACS and there are no biomarkers that are specific for the diagnosis of SCAD. Coronary angiography is the gold standard method to distinguish both entities, however correct diagnosis by cath is challenging and SCAD can be truly missed and misdiagnosed as classic ACS. Still there are no randomized controlled trials about the optimal treatment of these patients. But it is suggested that management should be different to atherosclerotic myocardial infarction. Conservative medical treatment is favored in the majority of cases, with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) being reserved for high risk patients due to poor interventional outcomes and higher failure rates. However, there is still a lack of data on this poorly understood condition and the optimal management has yet to be determined.

Abstract 16882: Exercise Prescription Patterns After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Insights From a Large Multinational Registry

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction in otherwise healthy and most times presumably fit young women. In the absence of evidence for benefit or harm, exercise prescription (EXP) after SCAD remains arbitrary. We assessed EXP patterns among participants in a large multinational SCAD registry. Methods: Participants with SCAD as confirmed by coronary angiography completed surveys detailing exercise (EX) habits prior to SCAD (initial survey), and EXP from their provider on initial and subsequent visits after SCAD (follow-up survey). Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected by electronic health record review by trained nurse abstractors. EXP was categorized according to EX components that include: type, intensity, frequency, time/session, and external conditions. Results: Among 950 participants, mean ± age was 46.8 ± 9.5 years, 96% were women and 77% reported attending ≥1 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation session. Prior to SCAD, 49% were aerobically exercising ≥ 3times per week, and only 32% performed strength-building EX regularly. Initial and subsequent post-SCAD visit details in 299/950 participants showed that most (93%) patients received some form of EX (Figure 1-A) counseling, namely: EXP, unspecific advice or were discouraged from any EX (Figure 1-B) . Limits regarding EX type and intensity were the most common advice received among EXP group (Figure 1-C) . Conclusions: Insights from our study show that only 40% of patients were achieving current exercise recommendations for adults prior to SCAD (vs 53% adult U.S population; CDC, 2018) which suggests that SCAD patients may not be as active as previously described. Most patients receive some form of EX counseling after SCAD; however, a structured EXP is needed to avoid overly cautious approaches that could lead to uncertainty, deconditioning, impaired quality of life, or increase risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Abstract 16206: An Atypical Presentation of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Young Male Patient

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in women but rare in young healthy males. We report a case of a young male who presented with left hand tingling/numbness and was ultimately diagnosed with SCAD. Case Presentation: A 24-year-old male with history of asthma developed left hand tingling/numbness while playing basketball. This progressed to cold left upper extremity, prompting him to go to emergency room. Doppler ultrasound showed acute left brachial thrombus and emergent embolectomy of left brachial artery was done. Transesophageal echocardiogram, performed to investigate possible cardiac source of thrombus, showed normal ejection fraction, dyskinetic apex and biventricular thrombus (Figure 1A). Cardiac MRI revealed a large transmural MI in distribution of a wraparound left anterior descending artery (LAD) with associated regional akinesis of the left ventricular apex and an infarct in the right ventricular apex. Subsequent angiography revealed normal coronary arteries (Figure 1B) except a heterogenous linear filling defect in the apical LAD consistent with Type 1 SCAD (Figure 1C). No intervention was performed and the patient was treated conservatively. It was postulated that patient sustained an apical MI after SCAD of LAD, leading to formation of ventricular thrombi which then embolized to cause acute brachial artery thrombosis. Discussion: SCAD in young males is rare and can be a diagnostic challenge. Type 1 “pathognomic” angiographic finding in SCAD, is the classic appearance of multiple radiolucent lumens or arterial wall contrast staining. In case of inconclusive angiography, intravascular ultrasound or optical computed tomography can confirm diagnosis. Interventionalists should be familiar with angiographic appearance of SCAD as advanced imaging might not be available and in many cases, conservative management is preferred to percutaneous coronary intervention.

Differences in revascularization strategy and outcomes in ST-elevation and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction with spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in young to middle-aged women. However, the role of revascularization for SCAD, especially percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), remains controversial. Purpose To compare revascularization strategies and outcomes in SCAD patients presenting with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) vs. unstable angina or non-STEMI (UA/NSTEMI). Methods We analyzed SCAD patients who presented acutely between June 2014 and June 2018 to 22 centers participating in the Canadian SCAD Cohort Study. We compared treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in SCAD patients with an initial clinical presentation of STEMI vs. UA/NSTEMI. We assessed follow-up major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate, a composite of all-cause death, MI, and stroke. The impact of revascularization on MACE was also evaluated according to clinical presentations (STEMI vs. UA/NSTEMI). Results Among 750 SCAD patients (mean age 51.7±10.5 years; 88.5% were women), 234 (31.2%) presented with STEMI. In the STEMI group, left anterior descending artery was more commonly involved (62.0% vs. 47.5%, p&amp;lt;0.001) and TIMI 0 flow was more frequently observed (24.8% vs. 7.2%, p&amp;lt;0.001). A total of 27.8% of STEMI patients were treated with revascularization (98.5% PCI), whereas only 8.7% of UA/NSTEMI patients were revascularized (93.3% PCI). For STEMI patients, 93.9% were planned procedures, whereas, for UA/NSTEMI patients, 71.1% were planned revascularization. Successful or partially successful PCI was 65.5% for STEMI and 76.9% for UA/NSTEMI (p&amp;lt;0.001). The median follow-up period was 850 (interquartile range: 619–1096) days. MACE rate was not different between STEMI and UA/NSTEMI (UA/NSTEMI as a reference: hazard ratio [HR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–1.68, p=0.72). Regardless of clinical presentations, revascularization was associated with increased risk of MACE (STEMI: HR 2.57, CI 1.25–5.25, p=0.01; UA/NSTEMI: HR 5.41, CI 3.19–9.19, p&amp;lt;0.001). The association of revascularization and increased risk of MACE was more prominent in UA/NSTEMI than in STEMI (Figure), but it did not reach statistical significant (P for interaction = 0.09). Conclusions In SCAD patients, long-term clinical outcome was not different between STEMI and UA/NSTEMI presentations. Revascularization was more frequently performed with STEMI; however, regardless of clinical presentations, revascularization was associated with worse clinical outcomes. Careful patient selection for revascularization is key for SCAD patients and further studies are needed to clarify selection criteria. Revasc and MACE by presentation Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Coronary angiographic manifestations of fibromuscular dysplasia and clinical outcomes in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Abstract Background Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a common predisposing condition for spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which is an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in young to middle-aged women. However, its impact on clinical presentation, coronary anatomies, and outcomes have not been reported. Purpose To evaluate coronary angiographic characteristics and clinical outcomes in SCAD patients with or without underlying extracoronary FMD. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients enrolled in our Vancouver SCAD registries who were screened for extracoronary FMD. Extracoronary FMD was defined as the presence of multifocal FMD on catheter or noninvasive angiography (computed tomographic or magnetic resonance imaging) in ≥1 extracoronary vascular beds. We reviewed coronary angiograms for manifestations of coronary FMD that were previously described (i.e. irregular stenosis, smooth stenosis, dilatation/ectasia, and tortuosity). Severe tortuosity was defined as ≥2 consecutive bends ≥180° at any cardiac cycle or 360° loop in ≥1 epicardial artery that was ≥2 mm in diameter. Clinical outcomes of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, MI, and stroke, were evaluated. Results We included 346 SCAD patients, 250 (72.3%) had extracoronary FMD. Patients with FMD were older (54.6±9.5 vs. 51.7±9.8 years) and more likely to have prior history of MI (7.2% vs. 1.0%, p=0.047) and stroke (4.4% vs. 0%, p=0.081) compared with non-FMD patients. The proportion of multivessel SCAD and TIMI flow was not different between groups, but type 3 SCAD was more commonly observed in FMD group (11.6% vs. 3.1%, p=0.026). On coronary angiography, severe tortuosity was more prevalent in patients with extracoronary FMD (58.4% vs. 36.5%, p&amp;lt;0.001), whereas rates of irregular stenosis, smooth stenosis, and dilatation/ectasia were not significantly different (Figure). Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 13.2% of FMD and 15.6% of non-FMD group, with similar success rates (75.8% vs. 69.2%, p=0.65). In-hospital and long-term MACE rate at median follow-up of 1032 (IQR 453–1096) days were not different between FMD and non-FMD groups (in-hospital: 5.6% vs. 8.3%, p=0.492; long-term: 19.6% vs. 15.6%, p=0.185). Conclusion In SCAD patients, severe coronary tortuosity was more prevalent in patients with FMD than those without. Despite the complex coronary anatomy, FMD was not associated with worse outcomes. Differences in coronary manifestations Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: Role of prognostic markers and relationship with genetic analysis

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognized as an important cause of myocardial infarction (MI). Currently there is little knowledge about prognostic factors for unfavorable outcome at long term follow-up; furthermore, there is also little knowledge about the genetics of these patients. AimsThis observational and retrospective study describes long-term cardiovascular outcomes of a population affected by SCAD and assesses predictors of recurrent de novo SCAD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Furthermore, a correlation between genotype and adverse events at follow-up was sought. MethodsBaseline characteristics, angiographic features, use of medication and long-term cardiovascular events were systematically ascertained between 2000 and 2019.Next generation sequencing was performed with a panel consisting of twenty genes of interest. Variants found were filtered based on their frequency and only frequencies <1% in the general population were considered as “positive”. ResultsSeventy patients were enrolled and followed for a median time of 39.1 months. Median age was 52 years and the majority were women (86%). Use of hormone therapy (HT) (OR 3.64, p = 0.041) and presence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) at onset (OR 7.03, p = 0.0073) were associated with a greater risk of recurrent de novo SCAD. Proximal type SCAD (OR 8.47, p < 0.0001) and presence of VAs at onset (OR 9.97, p = 0.047) were associated with a greater risk of MACE.A potential SCAD-associated mutation was detected in 27 patients (44%); 6 patients (22%) defined as genetically “positive” developed MACE vs. 2 patients (6%) defined as “negative” (p = 0.06 at univariate analysis). MACE at follow-up is reached earlier in genetically positive patients (7.9 vs. 42.5 months). Conclusionuse of HT and VAs at SCAD onset are prognostic factors for recurrent de novo SCAD. Proximal SCAD site and VAs at SCAD onset were prognostic factors for MACE. Analysis by molecular genetics seems to be a promising tool for the possible additional role it could play in MACE prediction.