CASE REPORT OF SPONTANEOUS CORONARY ARTERY DISSECTION IN A PATIENT POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Cardiovascular Complications in Patients with COVID-19 SESSION TYPE Rapid Fire Case Reports PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1245 pm - 145 pm INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cardiac phenomenon associated with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions seen often in young women with few conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. The presentation is indistinguishable from acute coronary syndrome and can lead to acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and sudden death. We share a thought-provoking case of SCAD in a COVID-19 positive patient. CASE PRESENTATION 51-year-old physically fit female with BMI of 22.46kg/m2, non-diabetic with recent unremarkable lipid panel and history of anxiety, postpartum cardiomyopathy 15 years prior with recovered ejection fraction presented with complaints of midsternal chest pain at rest, 9/10 intensity, radiating to the right shoulder associated with dyspnea, lasting for 3 hours until relieved by nitroglycerine patch. Initial workup revealed troponin of 3.08 and EKG consistent with acute ischemic changes without STEMI. She was incidentally found positive for SARS-CoV-2. Echocardiogram showed dyskinetic apex with normal ejection fraction. The following day, while she was on aspirin and heparin drip, she developed chest discomfort with EKG revealing dynamic T wave inversions and troponin trending up to 14.79. The patient was taken for an emergent cardiac catheterization which revealed patent coronaries with concern for distal left anterior descending artery dissection. Subsequently, the patient was continued on a heparin drip with an improvement of her symptoms. Troponin declined to 7.97 with no other COVID-19 related concerns. She was deemed medically stable and discharged home after completing her isolation. Furthermore, she underwent a cardiac and coronary artery CT angiogram 2 weeks later, showing patent coronaries and a calcium score of 0 and no findings of coronary artery disease. DISCUSSION: SCAD is an emergent condition closely associated with inflammatory conditions, systemic arteriopathy, emotional stress triggers, fibromuscular dysplasia, and pregnancy. It is not iatrogenic, traumatic or associated with atherosclerosis. The mainstay of detection of SCAD is coronary angiography. In our patient, since it was a distal LAD disease, the echo findings of dyskinetic apex helped established the diagnosis of SCAD. Management is mainly supportive usually carrying a good prognosis. In our case report, the connecting factor to SCAD was the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Our patient was without traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease, which reinforced the likelihood of SCAD instead of acute coronary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, as the manifestations, complications, and sequelae of COVID-19 continue to emerge, we believe SCAD needs to remain a top differential in COVID -19 positive patients presenting with symptoms of the acute coronary syndrome. To better elucidate the pathophysiology of SCAD in SARS-CoV-2 patients, we encourage further vigilance of this phenomenon. Reference #1 Hayes, S. N. et al (2018, February 22). Spontaneous coronary artery dissection Current state of the science A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https//www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/cir.0000000000000564 Reference #2 Ahmed, T., Jeudy, J., & Srivastava, M. C. (2020). Imaging modalities to delineate sequelae of spontaneous coronary artery dissection managed with percutaneous coronary intervention. Cureus. https//doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7591 DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Hareesh Lal No relevant relationships by Jennaire Lewars No relevant relationships by Avani Mohta