[Myocardial infarction in an infant without coronary artery birth anomalies].

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery is almost the only cause of neonatal myocardial infarction. Other rare causes have been proposed when haemodynamic studies have shown a normal coronary tree. An 18 months old child, born prematurely at the 6th month of pregnancy (in a moribund condition), presented with a postero lateral myocardial infarction and congestive cardiac failure resistant to drug therapy. Angiography showed anormal coronary tree, massive mitral incompetence and a left ventricular aneurysm. The mechanical complications of the infarct were treated surgically with a good result, 2 years postoperatively. The possible aetiologies of the infarction are discussed: embolism, thrombosis, blood disorder, infection, and cardiorespiratory failure at birth in a premature baby. This case shows that the complications of myocardial infarction in childhood may be treated surgically without coronary revascularisation when the coronary arteries are normal. The exact cause of the infarction remain uncertain.