Wellens' syndrome in a 24-year-old woman

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Apr 30:2013:bcr2013009323. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009323.

Abstract

Wellens' syndrome refers to specific ECG abnormalities in the precordial T-wave segment, which are associated with critical stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery culminating in an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI) if the patient is not urgently revascularised. We describe the youngest reported presentation of Wellens' syndrome in a 24-year-old woman with unstable chest pain, characteristic ECG changes and slight troponin biomarker elevation. This was initially unrecognised by the emergency department as unstable coronary syndrome and she subsequently progressed to an anterior non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI). Her coronary angiogram showed critical narrowing of the proximal LAD which was successfully treated with a drug-eluting stent.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Stenosis / complications*
  • Coronary Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Stenosis / therapy*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug-Eluting Stents
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology*
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Syndrome
  • Troponin / blood
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Troponin