Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome, mostly in women; however, differences between the sexes should be investigated. Materials & methods: Hundred consecutive patients affected by SCAD were identified; coronary lesions were classified according to the most recent classification and clinical and angiographic data of men and women were compared. Results: Men were significantly younger than women, with more cardiovascular risk factors. Lesions were prevalently classified as type 2A, type 2B or type 1; an angiographic pattern compatible with the presence of an intimal tear (types 1 and 1/2) was more represented in males. Conclusion: Sex-related differences in clinical and angiographic characteristics could help in shedding light on mechanisms that contribute to SCAD.
Keywords: acute coronary syndromes; gender differences; spontaneous coronary artery dissection.