title: Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction with angiographically normal coronary arteries: causes and outcomes.
abstract: A minority of patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have angiographically normal coronary arteries. We aimed to assess its incidence, identify possible aetiologies and determine long-term prognosis. We retrospectively analysed 714 consecutive patients presenting with STEMI over a 10-year period (1995 to 2005), and identified 41 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries. Mean age was 44+/-15 years; the majority were male. Specific diagnoses were made in 13/41 (32%) patients, including peri-myocarditis (11/41) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (2/41). No specific diagnosis was made in the remainder and these were considered cryptogenic AMI's. At a mean follow-up of 44+/-30 months, 1 patient with cryptogenic AMI had a non-cardiovascular death and 1 patient required pacing. In conclusion, there is a small but definite incidence of angiographically normal coronary arteries in patients presenting with STEMI. While the eventual aetiology remains uncertain in most patients, long-term outcomes appear favourable.
authors: Walid
authors: W
authors: Ahmar
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Lefkovits
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy