Aistė Jasinskaitė1, Justina Stroputė1
1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Academy,
Kaunas, Lithuania
ABSTRACT
Unstable angina is a condition demanding urgent medical treatment. It is characterized as a pressure, tightness, heaviness and burning sensation behind the sternum, emerging suddenly at rest, lasting longer than 20 minutes, with characteristic changes in an electrocardiogram (ECG). On the other hand, similar symptoms could result from other uncommon causes. We present a clinical case of chest angina caused by iron deficiency anemia. 46 year old woman presented with 2 months history of intensive aching pain behind the sternum, occuring during physical activity and at rest. ECG and Treadmill test indicated signs of ischemia and coronary insufficiency, but cardiac markers were not elevated and coronary artery angiography showed no signs of changes in coronary heart arteries. A significant iron deficiency anemia was detected and treated, after treatment the severity of symptoms decreased, therefore the condition was recognized as ischemic pain caused by anemia.
Keywords: non-stable angina pectoris, anemia, hearth changes.