Left coronary artery spasm causing severe left ventricular dysfunction without myocardial infarction

• Published in: Texas Heart Institute journal Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 223 - 231
• Main Authors: FREEDMAN, R. J. JR, FUENTES, F, SMALLING, R. W, KIRKEEIDE, R. L, STERLING, R. P, WALKER, W. E, GOULD, K. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Houston, TX Texas Heart Institute 01-06-1986
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery; Coronary heart disease; Heart; Medical sciences; Human; Aortocoronary; Bypass; Coronary artery; Spasm; Cardiovascular disease; Left ventricular failure; Coronary heart disease
• ISSN: 0730-2347; 1526-6702

This report describes a patient with persistent, recurrent left anterior descending coronary artery spasm, which causes marked left ventricular dysfunction in a clinical course that is typical of acute myocardial infarction with hyperacute electrocardiographic changes. However, after emergency coronary artery bypass surgery, the patient had complete reversal of left ventricular dysfunction, with no residual evidence of acute myocardial infarction by electrocardiograph or gated blood pool imaging and no CPK enzyme rise. The patient therefore demonstrates that coronary spasm in some instances clearly precedes the sequence of pathophysiologic events leading to acute myocardial infarction. Our report also demonstrates for the first time in man that massive left ventricular dysfunction may occur in this intermediate coronary syndrome, presenting clinically as impending myocardial infarction. With aggressive surgical intervention and emergency bypass surgery, left ventricular function was restored to normal. Despite the semantic problems of categorizing such patients as having impending myocardial infarction, the severe left ventricular dysfunction and alarming course of this patient's illness was resolved by emergency surgery, suggesting that, in some instances, aggressive therapy is warranted.