Misdiagnosis of bland-white-garland syndrome: report of two cases with different presentations.

Abstract

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) or Bland-White-Garland syndrome is usually an isolated cardiac anomaly but, in rare incidences, has been described with patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, and tetralogy of Fallot. This syndrome may cause sudden death in infants and young people but in this case report we present two different types of presentation. First case was a 3 year old girl diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy since her infancy. Her electrocardiography showed prominent Q wave in lateral leads. Dilated right coronary artery was revealed by echocardiography. The second case was a girl with prolapsed mitral valve and chest pain but similar to first case she had prominent Q wave in lateral leads at her electrocardiography and dilated right coronary artery but without heart failure. ALCAPA in children may present with ambiguous presentations differing from dilated cardiomyopathy and full blown heart failure to an atypical chest pain attributed to prolapsed mitral valve.