Recurrent myocardial infarctions in a young football player secondary to thrombophilia, associated with elevated factor VIII activity

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) due to coronary atherosclerosis in young adults is uncommon; rare causes such as cocaine abuse, arterial dissection, and thromboembolism should be considered. A 21-year-old football player, and otherwise healthy African American man, developed chest pain during exercise while bench-pressing 400 lbs. Acute MI was diagnosed based on physical examination, electrocardiography findings, and elevated cardiac enzymes. Coronary arteriography showed a thrombus occluding the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). Aggressive antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel, and eptifibatide was pursued, in addition to standard post-MI care. This led to the successful resolution of symptoms and dissolution of the thrombus, demonstrated by repeat coronary arteriography. Five months later, he presented with similar symptoms during exercise after lifting heavy weights, and was found to have another acute MI. Coronary arteriography again showed a thrombus occluding the LAD. No evidence of coronary artery dissection or vasospasm was found. Only mild atherosclerotic plaque burden was observed on both occasions by intravascular ultrasound. A bare metal stent was placed at the site as it was thought this site had acted as a nidus for small plaque rupture and thrombus formation. Elevated serum factor VIII activity at 205% (reference range 60%–140%) was found, a rare cause of hypercoagulability. Further workup revealed a patent foramen ovale during a Valsalva maneuver by transesophageal echocardiography. Both events occurred during weight lifting, which can transiently increase right heart pressure in a similar way to the Valsalva maneuver. In light of all the findings, we concluded that an exercise-related increase in factor VIII activity led to coronary arterial thrombosis in the presence of a small ruptured plaque. Alternatively, venous clots may have traversed the patent foramen ovale and occluded the LAD. In addition to continuing aggressive risk factor modification, anticoagulation therapy with warfarin was initiated with close follow-up.

Keywords:

• MI
• factor VIII
• exercise
• myocardial infarction
• young
• football player

Introduction

Myocardial infarction (MI) in young adults is rare and only accounts for 3% of coronary heart disease cases; classification falls under atheromatous, nonatheromatous, substance abuse, and hypercoagulable states.¹ There are documented cases of early MI from atherosclerosis secondary to dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and hyperhomocysteinemia; however, these cases generally occur in patients in their mid-30s at the earliest.²

Alternatively, perhaps there is a nonatheromatous process occurring. The patient could have some coronary dissection or compression from previous trauma to the chest in light of a high-impact sport such as football. This has been documented in patients involved in motor vehicle accidents with blunt trauma to the chest.^3–5 Perhaps there is a bridging of coronary vessels within actual myocardial tissue that becomes compressed during activity. Maybe there is an anomalous origin of the coronary arteries, resulting in chronic intermittent ischemia and leading to scarring and death with typical chest pain symptoms. Certainly, intense activity such as weight lifting may exacerbate such a condition.⁶

Moreover, drug use and septic embolism, cocaine, amphetamines, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and binge drinking are known to precipitate these events via vasospasm, arrhythmia, and vessel rupture.⁷ This is one of the more common causes of MI in young adults engaging in risky behaviors that include drug abuse. The final category, hypercoagulable state, is a feature of this case and will be discussed subsequently.^8–10

Case presentation

A healthy 21-year-old male African American college football player, with a body mass index (BMI) of 39 and no additional risk factors for coronary artery disease, was admitted to the emergency department. The patient was complaining of a single episode of unrelenting sharp chest pain immediately after he had finished powerlifting 400 lbs in a bench press lift. The chest pain was largely typical: substernal, associated with shortness of breath, exertional, constant, and not musculoskeletal in nature.

The patient reported no known drug allergies and took no medications or supplements. He had no chronic medical problems and both parents were alive without chronic medical problems. There was no history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, or coronary heart disease in the family. A review of systems was only positive for the above. His vital statistics on admission were within normal limits. The physical exam was largely benign.

Imaging results obtained included chest radiography that only showed cardiomegaly, consistent with an athletic heart. An electrocardiogram showed a sinus rhythm with a right bundle branch block (RBBB) (Figure 1). A urine toxicity screen was negative for cocaine and central nervous system stimulants. The lipid profile was within normal limits. At the emergency room, blood tests showed elevated serum levels of cardiac enzymes, with troponin at a level of 0.53, which peaked at 10.43 the next day (Table 1). Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction was diagnosed and the patient received medical treatment as per acute coronary syndrome protocol, which includes aspirin, a statin, a high intensity intravenous heparin protocol, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, and a beta blocker.

Figure 1 EKG initial presentation.

Note: An EKG showed a sinus rhythm with a right bundle branch block (RBBB) but without signs of ischemia.
Abbreviation: EKG, electrocardiogram.

Table 1 Cardiac enzymes

	Marker and range	Day of admission	6 hours	12 hours	21 hours	30 hours
First event	Troponin (0–0.04)	0.53	8.28	10.43	8.67	7.57
	Myoglobin (0–90)	412	97	–	–	–
	CK-MB (0.0–5.0)	11.1	46.1	53.4	43.8	26.1
	CK (15–200)	789	1,215	1,442	1,094	828
	Marker and range	Day of admission	3 hours	6 hours	14 hours	41 hours
Second event	Troponin (0–0.04)	0.08	0.39	1.06	1.74	1.96
	Myoglobin (0–90)	133	100	98	31	35
	CK-MB (0.0–5.0)	3.3	5.2	7.6	11.4	12.1
	CK (15–200)	444	423	472	471	358

Notes: Blood tests showed elevated serum levels of cardiac enzymes, with troponin at a level of 0.53, which peaked at 10.43 the next day.

Abbreviation: CK-MB, creatine kinase-MB.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in the emergency room and was unremarkable. A computerized tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest was negative for aortic dissection. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed a very minor patent foramen ovale (PFO) only with a Valsalva maneuver and was not apparent on a Doppler view (Figure 2A). During the Valsalva maneuver, a single bubble became apparent (Figure 2B). There was no aortic dissection. A coronary angiography showed a thrombus in the proximal to mid left anterior descending artery (LAD) in otherwise normal coronary arteries (Figure 3). Intravascular ultrasound showed evidence of thrombotic material in the mid LAD in addition to mild plaque disease, and no evidence of dissection in the left main, proximal, or mid LAD (Figure 4). The patient received Integrilin^® after coronary angiography. One week after the onset of chest pain, another coronary angiography showed resolution of the LAD thrombus (Figure 3). The patient was then discharged with aspirin (81 mg daily), clopidogrel (75 mg daily), and atorvastatin (80 mg daily), with advice to avoid strenuous activities such as heavy weight lifting. The patient received six sessions in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program before volitional discontinuation.

Figure 2 Echocardiogram TEE PFO.

Notes: TEE showed a very minor PFO only with a Valsalva maneuver. Doppler views did not demonstrate a PFO (A). During the Valsalva maneuver, a single bubble became apparent (blue arrow) (B). There was no aortic dissection.
Abbreviations: PFO, patent foramen ovale; TEE, transesophageal echocardiogram.

Figure 3 Left heart catheterization.

Note: (A) shows a thrombus in the proximal to mid LAD. (B) shows the dissolution of the thrombus. (C) shows recurrence of thrombus from the second cardiac event months later. (D) shows reperfusion of the vessel after stent placement. The coronary angiography shows a thrombus in the proximal to mid LAD (arrow) in otherwise normal coronary arteries.
Abbreviation: LAD, left anterior descending artery.

Figure 4A–F Coronary ultrasound showing vessel walls with mild plaque disease and thrombus lodged in vessel walls of LAD appreciated especially in (C) and (D).

Note: The intravascular ultrasound of the LAD demonstrates mild plaque disease with thrombus lodged in vessel walls of the LAD.
Abbreviation: LAD, left anterior descending artery.

Five months later, the patient had another episode of chest pain after heavy weight lifting. This episode was similar to the last, but had less intense, substernal nonradiating pressure without shortness of breath or lightheadedness. Pain was relieved with aspirin, nitroglycerin, and morphine. His vital statistics on admission this time showed some stage II hypertension.

He admitted not taking his medication for several days to a week before this episode of chest pain. The physical exam was again benign. Cardiac enzymes were elevated, with electrocardiography showing marked sinus bradycardia with PAC and existing T wave inversions in the inferior leads (Table 1 and Figure 5). The patient had a coronary angiography on the day of symptom onset. A thrombus was again found in the mid LAD, but was longer than the thrombus found 5 months previously. It was thought that this site had provided a nidus for thrombus formation via recurrent plaque rupture and previous vessel injury. Hence, a bare metal stent was placed on this occasion, as the patient had a previous thrombus that had recurred at the same location. The rest of the coronary arteries were normal by angiography. Due to the PFO, a hypercoagulable workup was performed. A lower extremity ultrasound did not show any DVT. Results of laboratory studies showed elevated factor VIII activity at 205% (Table 2). A decision to put the patient on anticoagulation therapy was made in light of the likely arterial embolus versus paradoxical embolism. He was discharged home with aspirin (81 mg daily), prasugrel (10 mg daily), atorvastatin (80 mg daily), and warfarin (5 mg daily with enoxaparin bridging). The ACE inhibitor was temporarily held because of mild acute kidney injury that was more likely a falsely elevated creatinine secondary to increased muscle mass. A beta blocker was stopped secondary to bradycardia.

Figure 5 EKG second event.

Note: The EKG from the second event showed marked sinus bradycardia with PAC and existing T wave inversions in inferior leads.
Abbreviations: EKG, electrocardiogram; PAC, premature atrial complex.

Table 2 Hypercoagulability results

Item and ref range	Result
Factor VIII (60%–140%)	205%
Antiphospholipid Atb panel, cardiolipin Atb, lupus anticoagulant, antiB2GP1 Atb	wnl
Protein S activity (60%–165%)	98%
Protein C activity (60%–140%)	137%
APC resistance (2.0–4.9 ratio)	2.10
Homocysteine level (4.0–12.0 μmol/L)	8.60
Factor II level (65%–120%)	121%
Factor V Leiden mutation	Negative
Plasminogen activator inhibitor Atb (1.5–50.0 ng/mL)	4.1
Prothrombin 20210 G>A mutation	Negative
Antithrombin III activity (70%–120%)	77%
Liver function test	wnl
Activated partial thromboplastin time APTT (25.0–35.0 seconds)	31.1
ANA (<1:40)	<1:40
IgG (591–1,540 mg/dL)	922
IgA (60–413 mg/dL)	171
IgM (54–285 mg/dL)	45
Direct Coombs test	Negative
LDH (98–192 IU/L)	153

Notes: 2c19 for clopidogrel metabolization, ANA <1:40, cardiolipin A/M/G, anti b2GP1 IgA/M/G, phosphatide IgM/G, lupus anticoagulant, Direct Coombs C3/IgG, IgA/G/M, plasminogen activator inhibitor Ag, prothrombin 20210A, antithrombin iii, APC resistance, factor II, factor V Leiden mutation, homocysteine, protein C and S activity.

Abbreviations: ref, reference; Atb, antibody; APC, activated protein C; ANA, antinuclear antibody; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; IgG, immunoglobulin; wnl, within normal limits.

Discussion

Factor VIII is a nonenzymatic plasma protein necessary for blood coagulation to proceed. Deficiency of factor VIII results in a condition named hemophilia A that affects 1/5,000 males. The opposite condition, where there is too much factor VIII available, results in increased risk for thrombosis. Hemophilia A is inherited as an X-linked recessive disease expressed in males, with females as asymptomatic carriers. Factor VIII serves as a cofactor to enzyme 9a in the activation of factor X. Factor VIII must be activated before it can support factor IXa as an effective cofactor. The factor VIII protein contains over 2,300 amino acids and is approximately 330 kDa, preceded by a 19 residue hydrophobic signal peptide that is important for secretion.¹¹

Just as there is a genetic basis to the absence of factor VIII, there is also a genetic component to having increased activity and levels. One study was able to localize high factor VIII levels to genes found on chromosome 5 and chromosome 11.¹² Another quantitative trait locus was discovered on chromosome 18.¹³ Factor VIII is often found in a complex with von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the body. Hence, high factor VIII levels may also be caused by a rise in vWF levels; this could be from either increased synthesis or decreased clearance of vWF.¹⁴ As further investigation continues, it will become interesting to determine if these chromosomal locations are involved in the regulation of vWF as well. The genetic basis for increased factor VIII levels is also greatly contingent on blood group types, as blood group non-O has higher levels of vWF and factor VIII than those with group O.¹⁵ Our patient has not pursued these genetic tests as he has other risk factors that can elevate factor VIII levels.

In addition, there are several acquired reasons for having high factor VIII levels, and some can be modified by lifestyle. Studies have found that a higher BMI positively correlated with higher factor VIII levels, as well as African descent that is associated with a 15%–18% increase of factor VIII levels above those of Caucasian descent.¹⁶ Our patient had a BMI of 39 and is of African descent; hence this is likely to increase his risk. Moreover, factor VIII levels increase with age, with an average rise of 5–6 IU/dL per decade. Exercise can transiently increase factor VIII levels, which are thought to be related to adrenalin and β2 adrenoreceptor stimulation.¹⁷ Factor VIII levels are known to increase up to 300% in normal individuals during certain exercise.¹⁸ The weight lifting with extreme loads probably transiently increased the patient’s factor VIII levels above his already high baseline. However, it is unclear whether the intensity of the exercise is correlated to the degree of factor VIII released. A rise in factor VIII can be seen in pregnancy, surgery, chronic inflammation, malignancy, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, intravascular hemolysis, and renal disease.¹⁹ Females generally have higher factor VIII levels for unknown reasons.²⁰ Higher factor VIII levels were found in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal.²¹ Furthermore, vasopressin enhances plasma factor VIII levels indirectly or directly via the v2 receptor.²² Thus, it is likely a good idea for postmenopausal women to remain euvolemic.

Factor VIII is known to increase a patient’s risk for hypercoagulability. One study examined how factor VIII influences risk for MI among young Mexican patients with acute MI. It was again noted that younger patients <45 years accounted for only 5%–10% of acute MI cases. Twenty-five percent of patients had increased factor VIII compared with 8.8% of control subjects. Mean levels for patients and controls were 134 mg/dL versus 118 mg/dL.²³ Hence, even slightly elevated factor VIII levels contribute to MI, whereas higher levels are found in the more rare cases of young individuals having coronary events. Another report describes a 27-year-old female that had an MI and was found to have elevated factor VIII without any other hypercoagulability. There was a 90% stenosis of the proximal LAD. The level of her factor VIII was 3.03 IU/mL; the normal range is 0.45–1.58 IU/mL.²⁴

The previously considered idiopathic cases of venous thromboembolism are now having correlations with elevated factor VIII levels. There was a dose-response relationship between subjects with factor VIII levels above 150% (150 IU/dL) and an adjusted odds ratio for venous thromboembolism of 4.8.¹³ It is also known that there is a 33% prevalence of factor VIII activity above 175% (90th percentile) in recurrent venous thromboembolism and is dose-related.²⁵ Those above the 90th percentile for factor VIII had a 6.7-fold relative risk of recurrent events compared with lower levels.²⁵ It is known that factor VIII levels above the normal 150 IU/dL can be found in 11% of the adult population.²⁶ It is also concerning that there are additive effects to factor VIII and other hypercoagulable states. For instance, oral contraceptives in women with high factor VIII levels increased the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) greater than in women taking oral contraceptives alone.¹⁰

PFO is a common congenital cardiac anomaly that is estimated to be present in more than 25% of the general population.²⁷ It is an independent risk factor for cerebrovascular events among young adults with cryptogenic stroke.²⁸ Embolic events occurring through the PFO can affect all regions including the brain, extremities, and coronary circulation, depending on which branch of the aorta or sinus a thrombus may enter. Paradoxical coronary artery embolism causing MI with factor V Leiden thrombophilia in a young woman has been documented.⁹ There have also been associations with PFOs and MI for patients in hypercoagulable states, such as peripartum women.²⁹ A girl as young as 8 years had a PFO combined with a heritable thrombophilia that resulted in MI.⁸ It is unclear where the initial thrombus in our patient developed – whether in the arterial circulation or the venous circulation with a translocation via a PFO. However, the venous Doppler of lower extremities was negative for DVT.

Our patient was found to have a RBBB on initial presentation. RBBB quite frequently occurs with PFO in healthy people and can even be used as a marker for PFO.³⁰ PFO can be a problem for other recreational sports as well, such as recreational diving, which is becoming more and more popular, and also requires a Valsalva maneuver. Counseling should be provided to adults and adolescents with RBBB when they start high-risk sports or during qualifications for some types of employment.

One last point, we would like to make is that instrumentation poses its own risks to the development of atherosclerosis and plaque rupture, and that further investigation should be performed into preventing this remodeling effect. In previous experiments, substances such as the antioxidant hydrogen sulfide have been used as a means to reduce this remodeling effect.³¹

Conclusion

We must never discount the cause of chest pain being MI in young adults as there are distinctive mechanisms by which these rare events can and do occur. The question then becomes how to prevent such rare cases as these. Strenuous exercise may possibly be a risk factor for coronary thrombosis because of transiently elevated factor VIII levels. It may be important to further risk stratify patients for physical activity using such factors as BMI, sex, descent, comorbidities, and hypercoagulability studies. As our genetic testing for hypercoagulability becomes both cheaper and more sensitive, it may be reasonable to put into action regular screening against these thrombotic disorders as a means of primary prevention before events occur. In light of the great prevalence of PFO and risks associated with fixing these genetic defects, fixing them should be discussed on an individual basis. Due to these existing limitations, an event tends to occur before this kind of extensive investigation is performed.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.