Letter to the Editor

Aortic Dissection Presenting with New Onset Atrial Fibrillation: A Very Unusual Presentation

Authors: Abhijeet Dhoble, MD, MPH, Dwarakraj Soundarraj, MD, Ralph Watson, MD, FACP

Abstract

To the Editor:


Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a cardiovascular emergency, and is usually fatal unless treated promptly. Presenting symptoms are generally chest or back pain, and elevated blood pressure (BP). Other common presentations are syncope, murmur of aortic regurgitation, and pulse deficit. Common electrocardiographic changes, if any, are due to cardiac ischemia.1 The presenting clinical features of AAD are diverse, and severe complications occur very rapidly.

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References

1.Hagan PG, Nienaber CA, Isselbacher EM, et al. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD): new insights into an old disease. JAMA 2000;283:897–903.
 
2.Blas-Macedo J, Marquez-Ramírez D, Gómez-Dominguez Jde J. Aortic dissection presenting as a febrile disease and atrial fibrillation. Rev Invest Clin 2007;59:87–89.
 
3.Chew HC, Lim SH. Aortic dissection presenting with atrial fibrillation. Am J Emerg Med 2006;24:379–380.
 
4.Oral H. Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: lessons from studies in patients. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2005;48:29–40.
 
5.Nattel S, Shiroshita-Takeshita A, Brundel BJ, et al. Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: lessons from animal models. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2005;48:9–28.