Acute coronary syndrome with spontaneous coronary artery dissection: which therapeutic option for a different pathophysiology?

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has been recognized as an emergent cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Patients mostly affected by SCAD are individuals without or with few cardiovascular risk factors, particularly young women, thus suggesting a clearly different pathophysiology than the more common atherosclerosis. Present research efforts outlined an improved characterization of the prevalence, natural history, and clinical outcome of SCAD. Intracoronary imaging has been an important asset in this condition, providing an improved diagnostic and therapeutic understanding. Current evidences suggest not only that this condition is more common than previously thought but also that the clinical management could be distinctly different from ACS secondary to atherosclerosis. Both medical and interventional treatment should consider the different cause of ACS, as well as the clinical stability of the patient, taking into account that the risk of recurrence is particularly high, predominantly during the first few days after the acute event. Stemming from new scientific evidences in terms of pathophysiology, clinical approach, therapy strategies, and follow-up of SCAD, it is important to identify spontaneous coronary dissection in the differential diagnosis of ACS.