Case 1: A 66-year-old black male complaining of chest pain is brought to the emergency room by ambulance. The pain began six hours ago and has become more severe over the past hour prompting him to call emergency services. He describes the pain as retro-sternal, pressure-like, and non-radiating. He had some mild dyspnea and nausea accompanying the pain. He has also noted intermittent palpitations since last evening.

He has a past medical history of hyperlipidemia (since 40 yo), hypertension (for 20 yrs, currently no treatment) and tobacco use of one pack per day of cigarettes for the past 47 years. Vital signs on arrival to the emergency room show a blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg, a heart rate of 125 beats per minute, and a respiratory rate of 26 per minute. His physical exam is unremarkable. He reports no allergies and no medication use. His father and two aunts from father side were all passed away due to cardiovascular complications.

Echocardiography identifies a 100% complete blockage in the left descending coronary artery, and an "anterolateral infarction" was made based on EKG and enzyme exam. At hospital he got thrombolytic treatment. However, he had a cardiac arrest and died. His cardiac pathology image is seen here: