Vol 9, No 3 (2024)
Case report
Published online: 2024-05-13

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Bland-White-Garland syndrome in an asymptomatic adult individual: the role of imaging diagnostics in establishing a definitive diagnosis and preventing severe cardiac complications

Azita Rezaei1, Marcin Gregorczyk2, Piotr Jagodowski3, Łukasz Marek Gawlik4, Łukasz Wypchło5, Ewa Stochmal5, Jan Spałek6, Beata Wożakowska-Kapłon57, Michał Spałek58
Med Res J 2024;9(3):302-305.

Abstract

Bland-White-Garland syndrome otherwise known as anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary
artery is classified as a rare congenital heart defect which can be fatal, if unrecognized and untreated. In most
cases, the disease occurs in the neonatal age, while a small percentage of patients remain asymptomatic
or sparsely symptomatic for many years, making early diagnosis and treatment difficult and delayed. In
the following paper, we present a case of a 39-year-old Caucasian woman with no past medical history or
systematic cardiac treatment who was admitted to the cardiology clinic with escalating symptoms of heart
failure. Laboratory tests revealed an increase in NT-proBNP without elevation of the myocardial necrosis
markers. Echocardiography showed generalized wall hypokinesis, left ventricular enlargement with features
of hypertrophy, and additional flow in the pulmonary trunk. The patient was referred for further imaging
examination to make a definite diagnosis, with a suspicion of patent ductus arteriosus.

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