Stillbirth Associated With Anomalous Origin and Course of the Left Coronary Artery: A Report of 2 Cases

Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2024 Apr 5:10935266231223278. doi: 10.1177/10935266231223278. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Coronary artery anomalies and their potential sequelae are not well studied in association with stillbirth. Herein, we report the autopsy findings in two term stillborn fetuses with coronary artery anomalies. Both fetuses showed identical findings consisting of an abnormal origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva and an interarterial course of the left coronary artery. Histologic vascular and myocardial changes were also present. These coronary artery findings are associated with sudden death in adults and neonates, and therefore, their potential to be a cause and/or contributor to fetal death is suspected.

Keywords: aortic valve; coronary artery anomaly; interarterial; intrauterine fetal demise; perinatal autopsy; sudden cardiac death.