Coronary spasm due to type a aortic dissection complicated by hemopericardium: A case report of another possible cause of coronary malperfusion

Abstract

Coronary malper fusion complicating Type A aortic dissection is relatively rare. The diagnosis of Type A aortic dissection as the cause of coronary ischemia is a challenge. The mechanism of coronary malperfusion has been proposed. We report a 45-year-old man presenting with acute inferior wall ST segment elevation myocardial infarction who was finally diagnosed to have Type A aortic dissection complicated by hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade. Coronary spasm is the most likely cause of transient myocardial ischemia in this patient and should be considered as another possible cause of coronary malperfusion in patients with Type A aortic dissection. © 2010 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.