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Netherlands Heart Journal logoLink to Netherlands Heart Journal
. 2006 Apr;14(4):147–149.

Aortic dissection presenting as acute myocardial infarction: potential harm of antithrombin and antiplatelet therapy

YL Gu, AFM van den Heuvel, ME Erasmus, F Zijlstra
PMCID: PMC2557172  PMID: 25696613

Abstract

In the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, antithrombin and antiplatelet therapy are indicated according to the current guidelines. When a patient presents with symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction, an extensive list of diagnoses should be considered. Because of the nonspecific symptoms of aortic dissection, the disease may be easily misdiagnosed. A high clinical suspicion of aortic dissection is therefore required. Once aortic dissection has been diagnosed, surgical intervention provides the only definitive treatment for these patients, regardless of antithrombin and antiplatelet therapy.

Keywords: aorta, dissection, PCI, myocardial infarction (acute)

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