Intermittent Typical Angina: Remember Wellens' Syndrome

Adv J Emerg Med. 2019 Jun 9;3(3):e30. doi: 10.22114/ajem.v0i0.155. eCollection 2019 Summer.

Abstract

Introduction: We describe a patient without a history of cardiovascular diseases as an example of Wellens' syndrome (WS).

Case report: A 65-year-old man presented to emergency department due to intermittent chest pain. Physical examination and chest x-ray were unremarkable. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed biphasic T-wave in precordial leads V1-V4. Primary cardiac serum biomarkers including high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and CK-MB were slightly elevated, that further assessment did not show any increases; while ECG recorded during a pain period revealed T-wave pseudo-normalization. The patient underwent coronary angiography that revealed a proximal left anterior descending artery lesion.

Conclusion: WS is a diagnostic and management challenge and serial ECG evaluation is still essential for a possible acute coronary syndrome. Having knowledge of all subtle features of this syndrome, could avoid improper discharge of high-risk patients. Definitely, accurate risk stratification, and prompting these patients to an early coronary angiogram and treatment are mandatory to avoid development of a massive anterior myocardial infarction.

Keywords: Case Reports; Chest Pain; Coronary Angiography; Electrocardiography; Wellens’ Syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports