title: Aborted myocardial infarction in a patient with rapid progression of Wellens syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wellens syndrome refers to a distinct electrocardiographic pattern of deeply inverted or biphasic T waves in the anterior precordial leads, in the presence of critical proximal stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The natural history of the syndrome is an extensive myocardial infarction within weeks of hospital admission.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report describes a 63-year-old man in whom typical electrocardiographic signs of Wellens syndrome advanced to persistent ST-segment elevation within 7min of presentation. Extensive anterior myocardial infarction (AMI) was aborted by primary percutaneous coronary intervention of a sub-occluded proximal LAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the large area of the left ventricle supplied by a sub-occluded LAD, devastating AMI could have been expected and may have resulted in serious ventricular dysfunction and death. Therefore, early recognition of Wellens syndrome is essential and can be lifesaving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.forename: Alja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlahovic-Stipac
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ilic
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Putnikovic
authors.forename: Aleksandar N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Neskovic
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013577:Syndrome; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin