A case of de Winter syndrome presenting with chest tightness

Abstract

de Winter syndrome, also termed anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) equivalent, is estimated to be present in approximately 2% of patients with acute myocardial infarction, but is often under-recognized by clinicians. Therefore, de Winter syndrome is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We report a 51-year-old man with typical chest tightness and a characteristic electrocardiographic pattern without classic ST-segment elevation, but with acute nearly total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Although the patient presented as a non-STEMI case, the definite diagnosis of de Winter syndrome was made on the basis of clinical and electrocardiographic findings. The patient’s symptom of chest tightness was relieved immediately after acute percutaneous coronary intervention and the left ventricular ejection fraction had not deteriorated at 1 month of follow-up.