Staphylococcal coronary arteritis as a complication of septicemia

We describe a case of staphylococcal coronary arteritis in the setting of s epsis due to arteriovenous fistula and dialysis catheter infection. The lef t circumflex coronary artery was the only vessel involved. The patient was a 77-year-old, insulin-dependent diabetic man with chronic renal failure. T he immunosuppressed state in diabetes with subsequent septicemia may have f acilitated a large number of bacteria to lodge in the atheromatous plaque o f the coronary artery. We briefly review previously reported cases and sugg est that bacterial arteritis may be an underrecognized cause of acute coron ary occlusion.