Douglas Wright¹, Claire Kenny-Scherber², Alison Montgomery³ and Omid Salehian³

¹Departments of Medicine, ²Radiology and ³Division of Cardiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada.

Abstract

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in pregnancy has traditionally been considered to be a rare event, but the combination of normal physiological changes of pregnancy and more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors are increasing its incidence in this population. The present report describes a 39 year-old woman that is seven weeks pregnant presenting with a non ST elevation myocardial infarction. The incidence, risk factors, pathophysiology and management of ACS in pregnancy are discussed.