Inflammation and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: DAVID H. SPODICK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1985)

Editorials1 May 1985Inflammation and the Onset of Myocardial InfarctionDAVID H. SPODICK, M.D., D.Sc.DAVID H. SPODICK, M.D., D.Sc.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-102-5-699 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptHow and why is an acute myocardial infarction precipitated in a patient who may not have had significant deterioration of structural and functional coronary abnormalities just before the infarction, and perhaps not for a long time before (1)? Numerous immediate mechanisms come to mind: the final addition to a relentless thrombotic silting over of an atheroma; sudden thrombosis owing to systemic, local arterial, or hemic changes; hemorrhage into, or rupture of, atherosclerotic plaque; and vasospasm with or without thrombosis. Regardless of the immediate "last straw," the question remains, What led to the infarction?A recent investigation of pericarditis of many...References1. BERTRAND M, LEFEBVRE J, LAISNE C, ROUSSEAU M, CARRE A, and LEKIEFFRE J. Coronary arteriography in acute transmural myocardial infarction. Am Heart J. 1979;97:61-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. SPODICK D. Frequency of arrhythmias in acute pericarditis determined by Holter monitoring. Am J Cardiol. 1984;53:842-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SPODICK D, FLESSAS A, and JOHNSON M. Association of acute respiratory symptoms with the onset of acute myocardial infarction: prospective investigation of 150 consecutive patients and matched control patients. Am J Cardiol. 1984;53:481-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BAINTON D, JONES G, and HOLE D. Influenza and ischaemic heart disease—a possible trigger for acute myocardial infarction? Int J Epidemiol. 1978;7:231-9. Google Scholar5. BURCH G. Of URI and cardiomyopathy. 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