1. Discussion Dissection of the coronary arteries is an uncommon condition. It was first described in 1931, and occurs most frequently in young women.' Corrado et al2 found coronary artery dissection in three of 150 cases of sudden death in subjects aged 35 years or less. The left anterior descending coronary artery is most commonly involved.3 The factors predisposing to coronary artery dissection are summarised in the table. Two of the three cases in the present report possessed such associations. Case 1 was a diagnosed example of Marfan's syndrome, and case 2 was a young woman in the postpartum period. The hormonal and other physiological changes associated with pregnancy, and the physical strain of labour have been proposed as contributory factors in this association, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Case 3 differed in that no predisposing factor could be identified
2. MB (eds). Coronary artery dissections. In: Nonatherosclerotic ischemic heart disease;Virmani, R.; Forman,1989
3. Non-atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and sudden death in the young;Corrado, D.; Thiene, G.; Cocco, P.; Frescura, C.;BrHeartJ,1992
4. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection and eosinophilic inflammation: a cause and effect relationship?;Robinowitz, M.; Virmani, R.; McAllister, H.A.;Am Jf Med,1982
5. Postpartum coronary artery dissection followed by heart transplantation;Curiel, P.; Spinelli, G.; Petrella, A.; Gori, A.; De Maria, R.; Bonacina, E.;Am Jf Obstet Gynecol,1990