Detecting Free Cholesterol Crystals in a Patient With Spontaneous Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome

Sei Komatsu, MD, PhD; Chikao Yutani, MD, PhD; Mitsuhiko Takewa, MD, PhD; Satoru Takahashi, MD; Kazuhisa Kodama, MD, PhD

JACC: Case Reports (Apr 2020)

Detecting Free Cholesterol Crystals in a Patient With Spontaneous Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome

Sei Komatsu, MD, PhD,
Chikao Yutani, MD, PhD,
Mitsuhiko Takewa, MD, PhD,
Satoru Takahashi, MD,
Kazuhisa Kodama, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Sei Komatsu, MD, PhD: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan; Address for correspondence: Dr. Sei Komatsu, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, 5-4-8, Nishi-kujo, Konohana, Osaka 554-0012, Japan.
Chikao Yutani, MD, PhD: Division of Pathology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan
Mitsuhiko Takewa, MD, PhD: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan
Satoru Takahashi, MD: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan
Kazuhisa Kodama, MD, PhD: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 4
pp. 615 – 618

Abstract

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Spontaneous cholesterol embolization is thought to be due to aortic plaque-derived shower emboli; however, flowing cholesterol crystals have not been detected. Free multilayer cholesterol crystals obtained from the femoral artery were observed using polarized light microscopy. Detection of these crystals may indicate the occurrence of spontaneous shower emboli. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Published in JACC: Case Reports

ISSN: 2666-0849 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/jacc-case-reports

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