Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (Mar 2021)

Sudden Death and Coronary Artery Anomalies

  • Stefania Rizzo,
  • Monica De Gaspari,
  • Carla Frescura,
  • Massimo Padalino,
  • Gaetano Thiene,
  • Cristina Basso

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.636589
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Congenital coronary artery anomalies (CAA) include a wide spectrum of malformations present at birth with various clinical manifestations and degrees of severity. Patients may be asymptomatic, and CAA may be an incidental finding during cardiac imaging or at autopsy. However, in other cases, ischemia-related signs and symptoms, leading to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), often as first presentation may occur. In this chapter, we discuss the normal anatomy of the coronary arteries (CA) and the pathology of CAA at risk of SCD, including our experience with victims of SCD among the young population (age <40 years) and among athletes.

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