Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a 26-year-old-male soldier

Abstract

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon cause of acute coronary syndromes, which has been gaining increased recognition with the routine use of coronary angiography and intravascular imaging techniques in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Here we report the case of a healthy, 26-year-old active-duty male presented to Tripler Army Medical Center for evaluation of acute onset and worsening chest pain that occurred shortly after participating in an Army physical fitness test. His initial EKG demonstrated a myocardial injury pattern with ST elevations in leads V1-V4. Invasive angiography revealed thrombotic occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with no evidence of atherosclerotic disease by intravascular ultrasound imaging. SCAD was suspected, and this diagnosis was confirmed after eptifibatide-induced propagation of the dissection plane resulting in recurrence of his index chest pain. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SCAD in the active-duty military population. SCAD is a rare, but important, cause of acute coronary syndromes that must be recognized by military providers as it necessarily precludes further military service.