A peculiar etiology of acute heart failure: adrenergic myocarditis

Pheochromocytoma can occur with a variety of cardiovascular signs and symptoms, and this tumor can also precipitate an acute heart failure associated with the typical clinical and instrumental findings of myocarditis. This peculiar etiology of acute myocarditis, known as “adrenergic myocarditis,” should be suspected when specific “red flags” of pheochromocytoma such as headache, palpitations, diaphoresis, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and left ventricular dysfunction suggesting Takotsubo syndrome are detected. In fact, its diagnosis allows a specific targeted therapy.