[Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm as a cause of acute myocardial infarction].

Aneurysmal dilatation of one or more of the sinuses of Valsalva (SVA) is a rare cause of coronary insufficiency. We describe one case of unruptured and partially thrombosed right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm of which the first sign was acute inferior myocardial infarction in a 40-year-old man while reviewing the literature, we found 44 reported cases of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, complicated by myocardial ischemia or infarction. In 28 cases the left coronary sinus was involved, in 12 cases the right one, and in 4 cases both of them. Myocardial ischemia is a potentially ominous prognostic sign in SVA patients. The poor outcome with conservative treatment leads us to consider the patient for emergency surgical therapy.