Background: Previous studies describing genetics evaluation in spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) have been retrospective in nature or presented as single case reports. As part of a dedicated clinical program, we evaluated patients in cardiovascular genetics clinic to determine the role of genetically triggered vascular disease and genetic testing in SCAD. Methods and Results: Patient data were entered prospectively into the Massachusetts General Hospital SCAD registry database from July 2013 to September 2017. Clinically indicated genetic testing was conducted based on patient imaging, family history, physical examination, and patient preference. Of the 107 patients enrolled in the registry, 73 underwent cardiovascular genetics evaluation at our center (average age, 45.3±9.4 years; 85.3% female), and genetic testing was performed for 44 patients. A family history of aneurysm or dissection was not a prevalent feature in the study population, and only 1 patient had a family history of SCAD. Six patients (8.2%) had identifiable genetically triggered vascular disease: 3 with vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome ( COL3A1 ), 1 with Nail–patella syndrome ( LMX1B ), 1 with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease ( PKD1 ), and 1 with Loeys–Dietz syndrome ( SMAD3 ). None of these 6 had radiographic evidence of fibromuscular dysplasia. Conclusions: In this series, 8.2% of the SCAD patients evaluated had a molecularly identifiable disorder associated with vascular disease. The most common diagnosis was vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. Patients with positive gene testing were significantly younger at the time of their first SCAD event. A low threshold for genetic testing should be considered in patients with SCAD.

Weill-Marchesani syndrome (WMS) is a rare form of acromelic dysplasia that is characterized by distinctive skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Previously described cardiac manifestations of WMS include aortic and pulmonary valve stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, mitral stenosis, and QTc prolongation. Autosomal dominant forms of WMS result from heterozygous pathogenic variants in FBN1, a gene with a well characterized role in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in the context of Marfan syndrome. In contrast, only one patient has been reported with aortic disease in WMS. Although the risk of aortic dissection from preceding TAA remains the leading cause of morbidity for individuals with Marfan syndrome, rare reports of arterial dissection in the peripheral vasculature have been described. Peripheral artery dissection has not been previously reported in other FBN1-related diseases. We describe a three generation family with FBN1-related WMS whose cardiovascular manifestations include TAA and cervical artery dissection, thus expanding the cardiovascular phenotype of WMS. Further research is required to quantify these risks and establish appropriate recommendations for cardiovascular imaging, medical management, and prophylactic surgical intervention in individuals with FBN1--related acromelic dysplasia.