Acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries in a case of polyarteritis nodosa: possible role of coronary artery spasm

Postgrad Med J. 1991 Jan;67(783):78-80. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.67.783.78.

Abstract

A 20 year old man with no previous history of heart disease presented with acute left ventricular failure following extensive anterior wall myocardial infarction. Selective angiography revealed multiple aneurysms in the renal, mesenteric and hepatic arteries with an infarct in the lower pole of the right kidney. These findings, along with the presence of circulating hepatitis B surface antigen favoured the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa. In view of normal coronary angiogram and absence of myocardial vasculitis, coronary vasospasm was implicated as the cause of myocardial infarction. Such an occurrence, which could have different therapeutic and diagnostic implications, has not, to our knowledge, been previously described in polyarteritis nodosa.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aneurysm / etiology
  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / complications*
  • Hepatic Artery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa / complications*