SCIENTIFIC LETTER Spontaneous dissection of native coronary arteries

pontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is rela-tively rare but occurs most often secondary to catheter tip or balloon injury. SCAD may affect women in the peripartum or early postpartum period.1 Women may dissect at a younger age2 and may dissect the left coronary artery more commonly than men. CASES We present 13 consecutive cases presenting in Auckland, New Zealand from 1996–2001. The diagnosis was made by angiography in 12 of the patients and at necropsy in one patient. Eleven of the 13 patients were female with a mean age of 44 years (range 25–58 years). There was no excess of traditional risk factors. On presentation four of the 13 patients were not thought to have an ischaemic pain, but all subsequently had raise