Spontaneous spiral dissection of coronary arteries/Management

What is the Cleveland Clinic's experience with spontaneous spiral dissection of coronary arteries?  Does the Cleveland Clinic have a specific protocol to determine the genesis of coronary spiral dissection?  What is their treatment outcomes experience?

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Dear Al

There is no specific protocol to investigate spontaneous dissection. Most times, the cause is unknown. Pregnancy, severe hypertension, cocaine use and certain connective tissue disorders are all known to cause dissection. The outcome depends on the specific cause. Even then, there is not enough long term follow-up to know how these patients do.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.