title: Spontaneous primary dissection of the coronary artery.
abstract: A 41 year old woman died suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of a spontaneous primary dissection of a coronary artery. This rare condition occurs typically in pre-menopausal women often in the peripartum period and hormonal changes have been among several suggested aetiological factors. In this case an association with auto-immune thyroiditis is described for the first time and the importance of extensive examination of the coronary arteries at autopsy is emphasised as the lesion was confined to a small focus near the apex of the heart.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications