Intractable coronary fibromuscular dysplasia leading to end-stage heart failure and fatal heart transplantation

ESC Heart Fail. 2020 Apr;7(2):714-720. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.12626. Epub 2020 Jan 29.

Abstract

Coronary fibromuscular dysplasia is uncommon, and even rarer its unstable and recurrent course. We present the unique case of a 52-year-old woman who underwent in total 12 coronary angiographies and three percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 months because of repetitive acute coronary syndromes due to refractory spasm, dissection, restenosis all leading to end-stage heart failure, and heart transplantation. The patient died 12 days after the heart transplantation complicated by intraoperative acute thrombotic occlusion of left anterior descending artery of the graft despite normal pretransplant coronary angiography. Autopsy of the recipient heart confirmed coronary fibromuscular dysplasia with massive intimal hyperplasia and restenosis.

Keywords: Coronary artery dissection; Coronary fibromuscular dysplasia; Orthotopic heart transplantation; Refractory coronary artery spasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Vessels / surgery
  • Female
  • Fibromuscular Dysplasia* / complications
  • Fibromuscular Dysplasia* / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure* / etiology
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged