Clinical perspectives of the primary spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome or sudden death. Typically it affects young women during the peripartum period and those using oral contraceptives. The pathophysiology remains unclear, but an eosinophilic periadventitial inflammation has been commonly observed in such cases. Unlike atherosclerotic intimal dissection, the dissection plane in the spontaneous dissection lies within the media or between the media and adventitia. Due to the rarity of the condition, the optimal management of the spontaneous coronary artery dissection has not been established and it may range from conservative medical treatment to percutaneous or surgical interventions depending upon the anatomy of the dissection, compromise of the vessel lumen and the clinical circumstances. The reported prognosis varies widely. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection should be considered in the differential diagnosis in young persons with precordial chest pain, especially women in the peripartum state and those using oral contraceptives. The clinical perspectives of the primary spontaneous coronary artery dissection are elaborated.