Myocardial infarction and sudden death after sport: Acute coronary angiographic findings

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Abstract
Thirteen patients, seven with acute myocardial infarction and six survivors of sudden death after sport, underwent coronary angiography within a mean of 104 min after the onset of symptoms. The admission electrocardiogram showed transmural myocardial ischemia in all patients. The ischemia-related vessel was occluded in all cases of sudden death and in three cases of acute myocardial infarction. Reperfusion was achieved in eight vessels: after intracoronary streptokinase in three, after intracoronary nitroglycerin in three, and mechanically in two. Coronary spasm was demonstrated in three vessels, and coronary thrombi, in four. The coronary lesion was described as either concentric in two or eccentric with irregular borders in eight. There was a high incidence of eccentric lesions consistent with ruptured plaques. The acute coronary angiographic findings of acute myocardial infarction and sudden death after sport are similar. Physical exercise can provoke myocardial infarction and sudden death probably by inducing plaque rupture that can evoke coronary spasm, thrombosis, or both.