Key result
Tirofiban resolves proximal LAD thrombus without stenting in young STEMI with pernicious anaemia.
Why the study?
Vitamin B12 deficiency due to pernicious anaemia may cause hyperhomocysteinaemia, a potential contributor to thrombosis, and its identification during myocardial infarction assessment in a young adult can reveal an otherwise unrecognised, treatable disorder.
Case Report (n=1)
No
This case report highlights the value of investigating vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia when a young adult without conventional risk factors presents with coronary thrombosis and macrocytic anaemia.
Hypothesis-generating for tirofiban without stenting in hyperhomocysteinemia-related STEMI; leaves open need for prospective validation.
Vitamin B12 deficiency due to pernicious anaemia may be accompanied by hyperhomocysteinaemia, a potential contributor to thrombosis. Its identification during the assessment of myocardial infarction in a young adult can reveal an otherwise unrecognised, treatable disorder.A 32-year-old man without known conventional cardiovascular risk factors presented six hours after the onset of chest pain with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiography showed a sub-occlusive thrombotic lesion of the proximal left anterior descending artery with TIMI II flow. Tirofiban was administered, and stenting was deferred. Repeat angiography showed thrombus regression without significant residual stenosis, and no stent was implanted. The aetiological work-up identified macrocytic anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinaemia. Positive anti-intrinsic-factor and anti -parietal cell antibodies, together with biopsy confirmed atroph ic gastritis, supported the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia.The in hospital course was favourable, and parenteral vitamin B12 replacement was initiated alongside cardiovascular treatment. This case highlights the value of investigating vitamin B12 deficiency when coronary thrombosis in a young adult is accompanied by macrocytic anaemia. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was a plausible contributing factor, but a causal relationship could not be established.
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O et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with pernicious anaemia and hyperhomocysteinaemia (n=1). Tirofiban and parenteral vitamin B12 replacement alongside standard cardiovascular therapy was evaluated on Thrombus regression and in-hospital clinical course. Tirofiban administration led to proximal LAD thrombus regression without stenting in a 32-year-old man whose STEMI work-up revealed pernicious anaemia and hyperhomocysteinaemia.
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