title: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a Western Denmark Heart Registry study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that associates with a high acute-phase mortality rate, whereas long-term outcome is less well described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of SCAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-identification study from the Western Denmark Heart Registry and the database of the Forensic Institute at Aarhus University from 1999 through 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCAD was documented in 22 of 32,869 (0.7 per thousand) angiograms in the angiographic registry. The SCAD incidence among cases of ACS was 22 of 11,175 (2.0 per thousand). None was seen in the forensic database. The mean age was 48.7 +/- 8.9 years (range: 37-71 years). Females constituted 17 of 22 (77%) patients and all had undergone one or more pregnancies; two cases occurred in the postpartum period. The left descending artery (LAD) was the predominant site of entry. The age distribution, prevalence of the cardiovascular risk factors, presence of coronary atherosclerosis, and entry of the dissection were comparable among genders. Treatment was percutaneous coronary intervention in 13 of 22 (59%), coronary artery bypass operation in 2 of 22 (9%), and medical treatment in 7 of 22 (32%) patients. The mean follow-up period was 3.6 +/- 2.9 years. One patient suffered from recurrent SCAD; another patient died suddenly. The MACE- (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and new revascularization) free survival was 81% after 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCAD is a rare disease that mainly affects younger women. Compared with earlier reports, the prognosis seems to be improved by early diagnosis and interventional treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department M (Diabetes and Endocrinology) and Research Laboratories, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Hospital NBG, Aarhus, Denmark. kristian.havmand@ki.au.dk
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thuesen
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents