Clinical predictors and angiographic features of acute coronary syndromes caused by systemic embolism

Abstract Introduction Systemic embolism to coronary arteries is one of the mechanisms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) of non-atherosclerotic cause. However, its clinical profile has not been properly established yet. Purpose To identify clinical predictors and angiographic characteristics of acute coronary syndromes caused by systemic embolism to a principal coronary artery (ACS-E), as well as to describe in-hospital mortality of these patients. Methods 40 patients with ACS-E, admitted between 2003 and 2018 in a tertiary hospital. Epidemiological, clinical and angiographic characteristics of these cases were compared with those from 4989 patients, attended for acute coronary syndrome of atherosclerotic cause (ACS-A) in the same hospital during the same period. Results Patients with ACS-E were younger (28% vs 10% were