Multivessel spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a patient after mild COVID-19: A case report

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by heterogeneity of possible cardiovascular manifestations. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome, the development of which in patients with COVID-19 has been described and studied insufficiently. A 35-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with an acute coronary syndrome a few weeks after mild COVID-19. According to coronary angiography, a dissection of ramus intermedius was detected. Successful stenting was performed. Subsequently, the patient had relapses of chest pain, which led to two repeated coronary angiographies. The patient had been diagnosed with consecutive dissections of right coronary artery and distal branch of ramus intermedius. Repeated stenting of dissected segments of right coronary artery and ramus intermedius was not performed. Afterward, the patient’s condition remained stable and he was successfully discharged. One of the main pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 is probably the virus-triggered hyperinflammation and massive release of cytokines. A systemic inflammatory response may initiate inflammation of the vascular wall and other target tissues. The results of histological studies confirm the direct infection of endothelial cells 2019-nCoV with the development of diffuse endothelial inflammation (endotheliitis). It is possible that in patients with a genetic predisposition to artery dissection, COVID-19 may be a trigger of spontaneous coronary artery dissection.