The following electronic only articles are published in conjunction with this issue of Heart.

Protein C deficiency manifesting as an acute myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke

I Y Tiong, M L Alkotob, S Ghaffari

Protein C deficiency is a disorder in the coagulation cascade that results in predominantly venous thromboembolism. However, recent studies have implicated this disorder as a possible contributor to arterial thrombosis, especially myocardial infarction. There are six reported cases of myocardial infarction secondary to protein C deficiency in the literature. This is the first report of myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke in the same patient as a manifestation of protein C deficiency. The investigation of hypercoagulable state is an essential component of the investigation of young patients with myocardial infarction.

(Heart 2003;89:e7) www.heartjnl.com/cgi/content/full/89/2/e7

Obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis and papillary muscle rupture

D Coisne, P Corbi, P Sosner

Mitral papillary muscle rupture is usually caused by ischaemia as a complication of myocardial infarction. In a 76 year old patient with no significant disease or major cardiovascular risk factors, papillary muscle rupture was caused by obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis, an unusual cause.

(Heart 2003;89:e8) www.heartjnl.com/cgi/content/full/89/2/e8