Published online Dec 16, 2017. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v5.i12.428
Peer-review started: July 6, 2017
First decision: August 4, 2017
Revised: August 25, 2017
Accepted: September 12, 2017
Article in press: September 13, 2017
Published online: December 16, 2017
Alpha-thalassemia trait and sickle trait are not commonly considered risk factors of ischemic heart disease. We report the case of a non-atherosclerotic silent myocardial infarction in a 46-year-old woman, carrier of the alpha-thalassemia trait (homozygous deletion of locus -3.7) combined with sickle cell trait. While the patient was included as healthy volunteer for a metabolic study, we performed cardiac magnetic resonance imagery showing a left ventricle apicolateral myocardial infarction. Coronary computed tomography angiography showed normal coronary arteries with a coronary calcium score of 0. The patient was treated with low-dose aspirin in secondary prevention afterwards. This case allows us to discuss cardiovascular risk among patients presenting with both alpha-thalassemia trait and sickle cell trait and the indication of cardiac imagery in such patients even when considered as low-cardiovascular risk.
Core tip: Alpha-thalassemia trait and sickle trait are not considered risk factors of ischemic cardiopathy. We reported the case of a non-atherosclerotic silent myocardial infarction in a 46-year-old woman, carrier of the alpha-thalassemia trait combined with sickle cell trait. While the patient was included as healthy volunteer for a metabolic study, we performed cardiac magnetic resonance imagery showing a left ventricle apicolateral myocardial infarction. Coronary computed tomography angiography showed normal coronary arteries with a null calcium score. The patient was treated with low-dose aspirin in secondary prevention afterwards. This case allows us to discuss cardiovascular risk among patients presenting with alpha-thalassemia trait and sickle cell trait.