Apical ballooning (Takotsubo syndrome) in mitochondrial disorder during mechanical ventilation

Takotsubo syndrome may be associated with neuromuscular disorders, but has never been described in a patient with mitochondrial disorder. A 75-year-old woman developed muscle cramps, ptosis, fasciculations and slowly progressive weakness and wasting of all four limbs, starting 2.5 years earlier. After exclusion of various differential diagnoses, including non-specific granulomatous myositis, inclusion body myositis, and motor neuron disease, mitochondrial disorder was assumed. Muscle weakness progressed to respiratory insufficiency, requiring mechanical ventilation. Five days after intubation, she developed hypotension, torsades de pointes, ST-segment elevation, and negative T waves. Echocardiography revealed apical ballooning with akinesia of the left ventricular anteroseptal, apical, apicolateral and inferior segments. Coronary angiography was normal, and ventriculography confirmed apical hypokinesia and ballooning. Takotsubo syndrome was diagnosed, resolving completely within 7 weeks under bisoprolol. This case shows that Takotsubo syndrome occurs also in mitochondrial disorder and under mechanical ventilation, and may be triggered by stress from respiratory insufficiency, intubation, pain from tracheostomy, stress from mechanical ventilation, medication, or from the uncertain prognosis.