1/123. Coronary artery aneurysms in a young adult: a case of sudden death. A late sequelae of Kawasaki disease?The case concerns the sudden death of a 21-year-old male during a soccer game. The autopsy revealed large, calcified saccular aneurysms at the origins of both the left anterior descending and the right coronary arteries. Histologically, the wall of the aneurysms was thin and composed of an internal fibro-calcified layer and an external thin tunica media. There was no evidence of active inflammation. The autopsy findings and a detailed medical history support the diagnosis of a late fatal sequela of Kawasaki disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/123. Anomalous left coronary artery arising from right sinus of valsalva could be a minor congenital anomaly--a case report and review of the literature.Left coronary artery arising from the right sinus of valsalva is a rare congenital coronary anomaly. This anomaly is either benign or serious, depending on the relation of the anomalous left coronary artery to the aorta and pulmonary artery. Potentially serious anomaly is associated with sudden cardiac death and warrants prophylactic coronary bypass surgery. A rare case of anomalous left coronary artery arising from the right sinus of valsalva is reported, documented by coronary angiography; however, it took a safer course between the aorta and pulmonary artery. Prophylactic surgery was not performed, for this benign anomaly may not carry the same risk of sudden cardiac death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/123. cardiac tamponade and death from intrapericardial rupture [corrected] of sinus of valsalva aneurysm.A 35-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and chest pain. She had a large aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus of valsalva. Before her scheduled urgent surgery, the patient collapsed and died of cardiac tamponade secondary to intrapericardial rupture of the aneurysm. We would advocate urgent repair of this type of lesion to prevent such an outcome. We are aware of no other specific reports addressing extracardiac rupture of non-coronary cusp aneurysms [corrected].- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/123. The combination of risk factors for sudden death in a resuscitated elderly patient with an exceptional cause of left ventricular hypertrophy.The work-up of a previously asymptomatic 72-year-old man presenting with sudden cardiac death revealed a coarctation of the aorta as the cause of arterial hypertension, severe left ventricular hypertrophy, in combination with coronary artery disease with an apical myocardial infarction, severe autonomic dysfunction, and AV-nodal reentrant tachycardia. All these elements and their complex, probably synergistic interactions might have been involved in the development of sudden cardiac death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/123. association of rickettsia helvetica with chronic perimyocarditis in sudden cardiac death.BACKGROUND: rickettsia helvetica is the only non-imported rickettsia found in scandinavia. It was first detected in ixodes ricinus ticks, but has never been linked to human disease. We studied two young Swedish men who died of sudden cardiac failure during exercise, and who showed signs of perimyocarditis similar to those described in rickettsial disease. methods: Samples from the heart and other organs were analysed by PCR and dna sequencing. May-Grunwald-Giemsa, Grocott, and acridine-orange stains were used for histopathological examinations. Staining of R. helvetica grown on shell-vials in vero cells, and the early descriptions of R. rickettsii by H T Ricketts and S B Wohlbach served as controls. immunohistochemistry was done with proteus OX-19 rabbit antisera as the primary antibody. The structure of rickettsia-like organisms was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Serological analyses were carried out by indirect immunofluorescence with R. helvetica as the antigen. FINDINGS: By use of a semi-nested PCR, with primers specific for the 16S rRNA and 17-kDa outer-membrane-protein genes, and sequence analysis of the amplified products, genetic material from R. helvetica was detected in the pericardium and in a lymph node from the pulmonary hilum in case 1, and in a coronary artery and the heart muscle in case 2. A serological response in case 1 revealed an endpoint titre for R. helvetica of 1/320 (1/256 with R. rickettsii as the antigen). Examination of PCR-positive tissue showed chronic interstitial inflammation and the presence of rickettsia-like organisms predominantly located in the endothelium. These organisms reacted with proteus OX-19 antisera, and their size and form were consistent with rickettsia. Electron microscopy confirmed that the appearance of the organisms was similar to that described for spotted-fever rickettsia. INTERPRETATION: R. helvetica, transmitted by I. ricinus ticks, may be an important pathogen in the aetiology of perimyocarditis, which can result in sudden unexpected cardiac death in young people.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/123. A young man with recurrent syncopes, right bundle branch block and ST segment elevation.We report on the case of a 33-year-old man with recurrent syncopes appearing suddenly due to sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardias. The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a right bundle branch block pattern and ST segment elevation in the precordial leads V1 to V2, not explained by ischemia, electrolyte disturbances, toxic ingestion, or structural heart disease (coronary and right ventricle angiograms as well as biopsies of the right ventricle were normal). ECG image was compatible with the so-called brugada syndrome, first described in 1992. This entity is very rare. Missed diagnosis can be disastrous because life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias often develop in patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/123. Supravalvular aortic stenosis, williams syndrome and sudden death. A case report.Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is an uncommon but well characterized congenital narrowing of the ascending aorta above the level of the coronary arteries. It can be a familial disorder, can occur sporadically, or associated with williams syndrome (WS) which is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting connective tissue and the central nervous system. Sudden death is a well-known complication of non-syndromic SVAS but few cases have been reported associated with WS. We present a case of sudden death in a woman with the diagnosis of SVAS and WS since the age of 3 years who refused surgical correction and died at the age of 27 years. At autopsy, the aorta and pulmonary trunk were narrowed and the walls showed peculiar microscopical characteristics. In the cardiac conduction system the His bundle was small and intramyocardial. The incidence, pathology, pathogenesis and prognosis of both conditions (SVAS and WS) are reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/123. Refractory vasospasm with a malignant course.We present a patient with two rare disorders, recurrent vasospastic angina leading to cardiac transplant and acute aortic occlusion. The patient had recurrent episodes of coronary vasospasm presenting with unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death in spite of adequate therapy with nitrates and calcium-channel blockers. He went on to have a cardiac transplant. The patient later presented with acute aortic occlusion with concomitant renal and mesenteric artery spasm. The circumstances of the presentation raise the possibility of a generalized vasospastic predisposition that is responsible for both events. smoking, the only known major risk factor other than atherosclerosis, was noted to be temporally related to both events in our patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/123. Left coronary artery anomaly: an often unsuspected cause of sudden death in the military athlete.More than 300,000 cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) occur in the united states each year. Left coronary artery anomaly (LCAA), although rare, is second only to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the most common cause of SCD associated with structural cardiovascular abnormalities. This case illustrates SCD secondary to LCAA in a military athlete. A 19-year-old soldier collapsed after an 8-km run. On arrival at the emergency room, he was unresponsive and in asystole. Despite successful resuscitation and aggressive management, the patient died the next morning. autopsy revealed an anomalous left coronary artery. LCAA-associated SCD is rare and usually seen in young individuals who collapse (and/or die) while exercising. A substantial proportion of these individuals experience prodromal symptoms of exertional chest pain, syncope, and/or sudden collapse. Early recognition and intervention are key to survival. Rapid, early imaging and invasive therapeutic measures leading to surgical correction may be the difference between life and death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/123. Sudden cardiac death from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.Clinical thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by a pentad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, neurological symptoms, renal involvement, and fever. A case of TTP in which early symptoms and signs were suggestive of ischemic heart disease, renal failure, and severe thrombocytopenia developed to a rapid outcome of death. The postmortem examination revealed coronary artery microthrombi, typical of TTP. The clinical presentation of this TTP was atypical: severe thrombocytopenia, striking renal and CNS symptoms were present, but fever and anemia were not present. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an uncommon condition that carries a high fatality rate if untreated. awareness of this syndrome and its high risk of sudden death underlines the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coronary (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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