Rapid progression of coronary artery disease in a patient with retroperitoneal fibrosis

SummaryA 76-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia was admitted to our hospital because of chest pain. On the basis of an electrocardiogram showing ST elevation in V1-3 leads, the patient was diagnosed with acute anterior myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed occlusions of the mid portion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and distal portion of the left circumflex artery (LCX). A paclitaxel-eluting stent was implanted in the LAD. Two weeks later, the patient complained of abdominal pain. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a perivascular cuff around the abdominal aorta and F18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography with CT (FDG-PET/CT) scan showed increased tracer uptake around the abdominal aorta and aortic arch, suggestive of retroperitoneal fibrosis. The second CAG, performed on day 46, revealed occlusion of the posterolateral branch of the LCX and rapidly progressing stenosis of the proximal portion of the LCX. The patient was suspected of coronary arteritis and received oral corticosteroid therapy. The third CAG, performed on day 77, revealed occlusion of the posterior descending branch of the right coronary artery. The corticosteroid therapy was gradually tapered after discharge. The fourth CAG, performed 5 months later, did not show progression of the coronary lesions.