Myocardial infarction secondary to coronary embolism: aetiology, clinical characteristics, and prognosis
An erratum to this article was published (Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care, 8 Jul 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
Coronary embolism is mostly caused by AF, usually presents with ST-segment elevation, and is associated with higher rates of mechanical complications and in-hospital embolic events, but not of recurrent thromboembolism after discharge. No significant differences in mortality were observed between CE and non-CE MI.
Study context
- Population
- Admissions for acute myocardial infarction (MI), single tertiary centre, January 2010–December 202389 (1.1%) with coronary embolism (CE)
- Participants
- 8,160 patients
- Exposure
- Embolic MI vs non-embolic MI
- CEn = 89
- Outcome
- Aetiology, clinical characteristics and prognosis of CE vs non-embolic MI
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mechanical complications
P = 0.031
Stroke/TIA
P < 0.001
In-hospital mortality
P = 0.321
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Attributable cause of CE
- Atrial fibrillation (AF)
- 52.8%
- Prosthetic valve thrombosis
- 11.2%
- Endocarditis
- 7.9%
Presentation with ST-segment elevation, CE vs remaining patients
- ST-segment elevation, CE vs remaining patients
- 79.8 vs. 58.6%, P < 0.001
- CE more frequently female, lower prevalence of CV risk factors
Post-discharge outcomes (hospital survivors) · median follow-up 59.6 months
- No differences in overall mortality or thrombo-embolic events after discharge
- More HF admissions in the CE group
- Propensity-matched analysis (77 in each group)
Original publication
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