The Role of Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in a Metabolic Syndrome Patient with Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report shows how increased aortic stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, predicted a sudden cardiac event in a metabolic syndrome patient.

Contribution

Highlights the clinical value of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in identifying high-risk metabolic syndrome patients.

Findings

Increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was linked to sudden cardiac arrest in a metabolic syndrome patient.

The patient had high-normal traditional risk factors but elevated arterial stiffness.

PWV screening may help identify high-risk individuals with borderline cardiovascular risk profiles.

Abstract

Introduction: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity reflecting aortic stiffness could be used as an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events for an individual with metabolic syndrome. However, the routine use of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is suboptimized in clinical practice. We report a case of metabolic syndrome with increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and subsequently developed myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac arrest. Case presentation: A Polish man of an age between 40 and 50 years previously diagnosed with metabolic syndrome with essential hypertension, obesity, dyslipidaemia, and impaired glucose level. He developed myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, and was successfully resuscitated with defibrillation. The patient showed high–normal traditional cardiovascular risk factors but an increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. The increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is associated with an increased arterial stiffness, which altered the myocardial perfusion and induced the anterior-lateral ST elevation myocardial infarction. The patient actively participated and completed the phase II cardiac rehabilitation programme. To the best of our knowledge, there have been few studies on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity screening for patients with metabolic syndrome. Pulse wave velocity screening by a physician appears to be helpful in identifying the potential high-risk population with borderline traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion: This trajectory highlights the clinical relevance of using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity as an adjunct marker to assess the risk of cardiovascular event for patients with metabolic syndrome.

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