Myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries: the pathologic and clinical perspectives

Abstract

Myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries is a syndrome resulting from numerous conditions but the exact cause in a majority of the patients remains unknown. Cigarette smokers and cocaine users are more prone to develop this condition. The possible mechanisms causing myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries are hypercoagulable states, coronary embolism, an imbalance between oxygen demand and supply, intense sympathetic stimulation, non-atherosclerotic coronary diseases, coronary trauma, coronary vasospasm, coronary thrombosis, and endothelial dysfunction. It primarily affects younger individuals, and the clinical presentation is similar to that of myocardial infarction with coronary atherosclerosis. Thrombolytics, aspirin, nitrates, and beta blockers should be instituted as a standard therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Once normal coronary arteries are identified on subsequent angiography, the calcium channel blockers could be added since coronary vasospasm appears to play a major role in the pathophysiology of this condition. The beta blockers should be avoided in cocaine-induced myocardial infarction because the coronary spasm may worsen. In myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries, complications such as malignant arrhythmia, heart failure, and hypotension are generally less common, and prognosis is usually good. Recurrent infarction, postinfarction angina, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death are rare. Stress electrocardiography and imaging studies are not useful prognostic tests and long-term survival mainly depends on the residual left ventricular function, which is usually good.