Evolving Management and Improving Outcomes of Pregnancy-associated Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (P-SCAD): a Systematic Review

Background: Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (P-SCAD) is defined as SCAD occurring during pregnancy or within 3 months post-partum. Earlier systematic reviews have suggested a high maternal and foetal mortality rate. We undertook a structured systematic review of P-SCAD demographics, management and maternal and foetal outcomes.

Methods: Case study identification was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, with screening of all published P-SCAD cases not meeting pre-defined exclusion criteria. Of two hundred and seventy-three publications screened, one hundred and thirty-eight cases met inclusion criteria. Cases were allocated to one of three time periods; 1960-85 (twenty cases) reflecting early management of P-SCAD, 1986-2005 (forty-two cases) reflecting recent management, and 2006-16 (seventy-six cases), reflecting contemporary management.

Results: The only significant demographic change in women experiencing P-SCAD over the last 50 years was an increasing proportion of primigravidas ( = 0.02). Management and outcomes, however, have altered significantly. Emergent angiography ( < 0.0001), reduced thrombolysis ( = 0.006) and increasingly conservative or percutaneous management ( < 0.0001) are associated with dramatic reductions in maternal mortality (85% in earliest reports to 4% in the last decade,  < 0.0001) and foetal mortality (50% in earliest reports to 0.0% in the last decade,  = 0.023).

Conclusion: This systematic review of temporal changes in presentation, management and outcomes of P-SCAD represents the widest range of variables analysed in the largest cohort of P-SCAD patients to date. In the setting of earlier coronary angiography and increasingly conservative management, maternal and foetal survival rates continue to improve.