[SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH IN A YOUNG ADULT WITH DIFFUSE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE].

INTRODUCTION: We present a very unusual case in which a high-school student was admitted to our cardiac center unconscious and intubated after suffering from out of hospital SCD. There was no history of fever, substance abuse, family history of sudden cardiac death and/or coronary artery disease, arthralgia, hypercoagulable state or familial hyperlipidemia. An emergent coronary angiogram revealed diffuse obstructive coronary artery disease which was treated with several stents. The following days of his admission were characterized by hemodynamic instability, necessitating temporary support via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), from which he was weaned off at a later stage. A full work-up regarding the etiology of the premature coronary artery disease was negative including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, yet an empirical steroids course trial was given. Eventually, the patient regained full recovery, both cardiac and neurological, and returned to his usual daily activities.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse coronary artery disease at a young age, manifesting itself as sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a rare event.