The ANOMALOUS ORIGIN OF THE LEFT CORONARY ARTERY FROM THE PULMONARY ARTERY IN A YOUNG WOMAN (ALCAPA) is an extremely rare, but potentially fatal congenital coronary anomaly. It represents one of the most common causes of myocardial ischemia and infarction in children. Most of them die in infancy. Diagnosis in adulthood is uncommon and usually occurs when the collateral circulation is well-developed. The case of a 21 year-old woman with moderate mitral regurgitation and left ventricle disfuction, turned out to be ALCAPA, is here discussed. She underwent a successful surgical correction (excision of the left coronary artery button from pulmonary artery and transfer to aorta). Post-operatively, echo revealed almost normal left ventricle function and grade I mitral regurgitation. Prompt surgical re-estabilishment of a two coronary system on diagnosis yields excellent results and allows progressive and nearby total miocardial recovery.
Keywords:- alcapa
- anomalous origin
- left coronary artery