Late presentation of a cardiomyopathy provoked by sudden emotional stress

Paul G Bridgman1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch, New Zealand. paul.bridgman@cdhb.govt.nz

This case report describes a Caucasian woman with an acute and reversible cardiomyopathy provoked by sudden emotional stress. Notable features of the case are the lack of neurohumoral activation, a 1-week delay between the identified emotional stressor and presentation, and the development of torsades de pointes with amiodarone therapy. Amiodarone should be viewed as contraindicated in this condition.

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