Resolution of coronary arteritis following tuberculosis treatment

Abstract

Background Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) in an uncommon condition usually associated with atherosclerosis, but systemic vasculitides constitute important differential diagnoses. A less recognized cause of CAA, tuberculosis (TB) has also been noted to occur simultaneously in patients with such vascular abnormalities. Case report A 60-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Angiography demonstrated segmental aneurysms of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Shortly after, she was also diagnosed with cutaneous TB, and treatment was promptly initiated. Reevaluation conducted several months later demonstrated that levels of inflammation markers had significantly decreased. New catheterization of coronary arteries evidenced complete resolution of coronary aneurysm images. Conclusion Due to the clinical and radiologic resolution with only TB treatment, as well as lack of evidence supporting atherosclerotic or vasculitic etiologies, TB can be considered a possible contributor to aneurysm formation in this case. Prospective studies are necessary to reliably demonstrate causality between TB infection and CAA.