Spontaneous coronary artery dissection as a cause of acute myocardial infarction in the postpartum period.

Spontaneous coronary dissection is an infrequent cause of acute myocardial infarction, and several cases have been presented during the peripartum period. We present a case of acute myocardial infarction resulting from spontaneous coronary artery dissection, in a 37-year-old woman during the postpartum period. Thrombolytic treatment was administered in the emergency room uneventfully but without symptom resolution. Diagnosis was subsequently established by coronary arteriography. The patient's in-hospital and long-term clinical course and prognosis are described and the potential pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. Finally, the treatment options for this rare entity are presented.