Publikation

The "Spiked Helmet" Sign Associated with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 01.05.2021

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Minotti B, Scheler J, Sieber R, Scheler E. The "Spiked Helmet" Sign Associated with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2021; 5:152-154.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2021; 5
Veröffentlichungsdatum
01.05.2021
eISSN (Online)
2474-252X
Seiten
152-154
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

INTRODUCTION
The "spiked helmet" sign was first described in 2011 by Littmann and Monroe in a case series of eight patients. This sign is characterized by an ST-elevation atypically with the upward shift starting before the onset of the QRS complex. Nowadays the sign is associated with critical non-cardiac illness.

CASE REPORT
An 84-year-old man with a history of three-vessel disease presented to the emergency department with intermittent pain in the upper abdomen. The electrocardiogram revealed the "spiked helmet" sign. After ruling out non-cardiac conditions the catherization lab was activated. The coronary angiography revealed an acute occlusion of the right coronary artery, which was balloon-dilated followed by angioplasty. The first 24 hours went uneventfully with resolution of the "spiked helmet" sign. On the second day, however, the patient died suddenly and unexpectedly.

CONCLUSION
Despite the association with non-cardiac illness, the "spiked helmet" sign can be seen by an acute coronary artery occlusion as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Reciprocal ST-depression in these cases should raise the suspicion of STEMI.