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Published on: August 6, 2015
Broken heart syndrome: a case report
Yaser Jenab1, Mohamad Taher, Samira Shirzad
1Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a stress-induced heart condition, mimics heart attacks but has distinct management needs. Prompt diagnosis and treatment lead to full recovery, highlighting its unique pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is increasingly diagnosed.
- It presents as transient left ventricular dysfunction, mimicking acute myocardial infarction without coronary stenosis.
Observation:
- A case presented with dizziness and near syncope following intense emotional stress.
- ECG showed ST-T changes, and echocardiography revealed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
- Coronary angiography showed minimal coronary artery disease.
Findings:
- The patient received beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and diuretics.
- Symptoms resolved, and follow-up echocardiography showed significant improvement in left ventricular function.
Implications:
- Understanding Takotsubo cardiomyopathy's unique pathophysiology is crucial for appropriate management.
- This condition is distinct from acute myocardial infarction, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies.
- Successful treatment can lead to complete recovery of cardiac function.
Abstract:
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a recently increasing diagnosed disease manifested by transient apical or mid left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. This sign is similar to acute myocardial infarction but without significant coronary artery stenosis. There are important and essential differences between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and acute myocardial infarction in terms of management, necessitating a good understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the former.We report a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy which presented with dizziness and near syncope after an intense emotional stress. Electrocardiogram showed ST-T changes in V1-V3 and echocardiography revealed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with marked regional wall motion abnormalities. Coronary angiography demonstrated minimal coronary artery disease.The patient was treated with beta -blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and diuretics. At the follow-up visit, all the symptoms had disappeared and control echocardiography showed significant improvement in the left ventricular systolic function with a normal ejection fraction and normal wall motion.
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