MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION COMPLICATED BY VENTRICULAR SEPTAL RUPTURE IN A PATIENT WITH POLYCYTHEMIA-VERA AND MINIMAL CORONARY ECTASIA

Although it is known that patients with polycythemia vera (PV) are at increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) secondary to thrombosis, ventricular septal rupture in this setting has never been reported. Ve ntricular septal rupture complicating a small anteroseptal MI is repor ted in a patient with PV and with only minimal ectasia of the left ant erior descending coronary artery. Despite small infarct size these pat ients may be predisposed to myocardial hemorrhage, increasing the like lihood of myocardial rupture.