Coronary Artery Ectasia in Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Role of Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Management

Abstract

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is an abnormal dilatation of coronary artery segments, often linked with atherosclerosis. This report discusses two cases of CAE presenting as acute coronary syndrome. A 36-year-old man had proximal blockage in the left circumflex artery (LCx) and ectasia in the obtuse marginal artery and left anterior descending artery (LAD), while a 53-year-old male smoker had an ectatic LAD with a substantial thrombus. Both were treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), specifically apixaban, along with atorvastatin. The first patient had complete resolution of LCx occlusion after 1 year, and the second patient had complete thrombus dissolution in the LAD in 2 months. These cases highlight the potential benefits of NOACs in managing CAE in acute coronary syndrome, suggesting that triple therapy can significantly improve clinical outcomes.