CASE OF THE MONTH – DECEMBER

A normal coronary angiography … really?

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Nicolas Amabile & Christophe Caussin
Cardiology Department
Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris

  • A 65 year-old man was referred for transient ST elevation MI.
  • Medical history:
    • Thrombophilia (FV Leiden)
    • CV risk factors: Mild dyslipidemia

The per-critical EKG depicted a transient ST elevation in the apical leads (Fig 1) with normalization after isosorbide dinitrates ingestion (Fig 2)

f1com-novFigure 1 – Click to enlarge

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Figure 2 – Click to enlarge

There was no recurrent chest pain after admission

A mild troponin rise up to 2.41 IU was measured

The initial management included anticoagulation with LMWH + double antiplatelet therapy ( clopidogrel 600 mg loading dose + aspirin)

A prompt coronary angiography was performed within the first 24h.
Coronary angiography views are provided


LAD analysis by OCT was performed.

The vessel presented a mild atherosclerotic infiltration with lipid-rich plaque and a discrete aspect of plaque rupture (with no remnant thrombus) on proximal LAD

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CT scan confirmed the presence of a discrete plaque on proximal LAD

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Two limited myocardial infarction zones were visualized on apical and lateral LV walls by CT scan and MRI

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In Summary:

  • Transient STEMI related to acute proximal LAD reversible occlusion.
  • Underlying atherosclerotic infiltration with lipid-rich plaque
  • Proximal LAD lipid plaque rupture with thrombus embolization in 1st Dg and distal LAD.
  • No visible thrombus
  • Subsequent management included medical therapy with double antiplatelet therapy (aspirin+ clopidogrel) for at least 1 year