1. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a Caucasian Italian woman: case report.
- Author
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Lisi M, Zacà V, Maffei S, Casucci F, Maggi M, Lunghetti S, Aitiani P, Carrera A, Castellani D, Favilli R, Pierli C, and Mondillo S
- Subjects
- Aged, Cardiomyopathies complications, Cardiomyopathies drug therapy, Cardiovascular Agents therapeutic use, Coronary Angiography, Echocardiography, Electrocardiography, Female, Humans, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left diagnosis, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left etiology, Cardiomyopathies diagnosis
- Abstract
Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an acute cardiac syndrome characterized by transient LV regional wall motion abnormalities (with peculiar apical ballooning appearance), chest pain or dyspnea, ST-segment elevation and minor elevations of cardiac enzyme levels, Case Presentation: A 68-year-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department because of sudden onset chest pain occurred while transferring her daughter, who had earlier suffered a major seizure, to the hospital. The EKG showed sinus tachycardia with ST-segment elevation in leads V2-V3 and ST-segment depression in leads V5-V6, she was, thus, referred for emergency coronary angiography. A pre-procedural transthoracic echocardiogram revealed regional systolic dysfunction of the LV walls with hypokinesis of the mid-apical segments and hyperkinesis of the basal segments. Coronary angiography showed patent epicardial coronary arteries; LV angiography demonstrated the characteristic morphology of apical ballooning with hyperkinesis of the basal segments and hypokinesis of the mid-apical segments. The post-procedural course was uneventful; on day 5 after admission the echocardiogram revealed full recovery of apical and mid-ventricular regional wall-motion abnormalities., Conclusion: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare, unique entity that has only recently been widely appreciated. Acute stress has been indicated as a common trigger for the transient LV apical ballooning syndrome, especially in postmenopausal women. The present report is a typical example of stress-induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a Caucasian Italian postmenopausal woman.
- Published
- 2007
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