Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by apical ballooning of the left ventricle (LV) in the absence of relevant coronary artery stenosis, which typically occurs in elderly women after emotional stress. Catecholamine cardiotoxicity, metabolic disturbance, and coronary microvascular impairment ha...

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Main Authors: Sorin Giusca, Tom Eisele, Peter Nunninger, Benedikt Münz, Grigorios Korosoglou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Cardiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7875240
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author Sorin Giusca
Tom Eisele
Peter Nunninger
Benedikt Münz
Grigorios Korosoglou
author_facet Sorin Giusca
Tom Eisele
Peter Nunninger
Benedikt Münz
Grigorios Korosoglou
author_sort Sorin Giusca
collection DOAJ
description Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by apical ballooning of the left ventricle (LV) in the absence of relevant coronary artery stenosis, which typically occurs in elderly women after emotional stress. Catecholamine cardiotoxicity, metabolic disturbance, and coronary microvascular impairment have previously been proposed as underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, whereas myocardial stunning resulting from epicardial coronary artery vasospasm is not generally accepted as a cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The prognosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is generally more favourable compared to myocardial infarction; however, severe complications such as rupture of the LV and life-threatening arrhythmias may occur. Herein, we describe a case of an 84-year-old female, who presented with aborted sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation. Echocardiography suggested LV apical ballooning with severely impaired LV-function, so that takotsubo cardiomyopathy was suspected. However, coronary angiography revealed epicardial spasm of the left anterior ascending, which resolved after intracoronary injection of 0.2 mg nitroglycerine. Cardiac magnetic resonance exhibited subendocardial late enhancement and echocardiography showed normalization of LV dysfunction during follow-up. The patient was put on conservative treatment with nitrates and calcium inhibitors and ICD implantation were deferred.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6404
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publishDate 2017-01-01
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series Case Reports in Cardiology
spelling doaj-art-10302d62671b46319cc8e6f140aa8f0c2025-08-20T03:55:44ZengWileyCase Reports in Cardiology2090-64042090-64122017-01-01201710.1155/2017/78752407875240Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary VasospasmSorin Giusca0Tom Eisele1Peter Nunninger2Benedikt Münz3Grigorios Korosoglou4Department of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, GRN Hospital Weinheim, Weinheim, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, GRN Hospital Weinheim, Weinheim, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, GRN Hospital Weinheim, Weinheim, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, GRN Hospital Weinheim, Weinheim, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, GRN Hospital Weinheim, Weinheim, GermanyTakotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by apical ballooning of the left ventricle (LV) in the absence of relevant coronary artery stenosis, which typically occurs in elderly women after emotional stress. Catecholamine cardiotoxicity, metabolic disturbance, and coronary microvascular impairment have previously been proposed as underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, whereas myocardial stunning resulting from epicardial coronary artery vasospasm is not generally accepted as a cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The prognosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is generally more favourable compared to myocardial infarction; however, severe complications such as rupture of the LV and life-threatening arrhythmias may occur. Herein, we describe a case of an 84-year-old female, who presented with aborted sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation. Echocardiography suggested LV apical ballooning with severely impaired LV-function, so that takotsubo cardiomyopathy was suspected. However, coronary angiography revealed epicardial spasm of the left anterior ascending, which resolved after intracoronary injection of 0.2 mg nitroglycerine. Cardiac magnetic resonance exhibited subendocardial late enhancement and echocardiography showed normalization of LV dysfunction during follow-up. The patient was put on conservative treatment with nitrates and calcium inhibitors and ICD implantation were deferred.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7875240
spellingShingle Sorin Giusca
Tom Eisele
Peter Nunninger
Benedikt Münz
Grigorios Korosoglou
Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm
Case Reports in Cardiology
title Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm
title_full Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm
title_fullStr Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm
title_full_unstemmed Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm
title_short Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death in a Female Patient Presenting with Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy due to Epicardial Coronary Vasospasm
title_sort aborted sudden cardiac death in a female patient presenting with takotsubo like cardiomyopathy due to epicardial coronary vasospasm
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7875240
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