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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and electroconvulsive treatments: a case study and review
Michael J Serby1, Melinda Lantz, Brent I Chabus
1Beth Israel Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10003, USA. mserby@chpnet.org
Abstract:
A 90-year-old woman who had received more than 100 electroconvulsive treatments (ECT) over many years requested another course for depression. After the third ECT, an electrocardiogram showed new T-wave inversion (V2-V6) and ST elevation (V2). Catheterization revealed severe left ventricular dysfunction but no coronary obstruction, leading to a diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (stress-related). The patient's recovery was uneventful. Recent literature cites three other cases post-ECT. It appears that elderly women are at greatest risk, repeated stress is generally required, and recovery is achieved quickly. Elevated levels of catecholamines and of vasopressin may be implicated.
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