Catecholamine-induced cardiopathy accompanied with pheochromocytoma

Catecholamine-induced cardiopathy accompanied with pheochromocytoma in a 28-year-old female including two other cases are reported and the relationship between pheochromocytoma and cardiac change was also discussed. In the first case, catecholamine in the tumor tissue showed extremely high values; 94.22 micrograms/g of adrenaline and 6,332.42 micrograms/g of noradrenaline. Histologically, myocardial degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration between myocardial fibers were noted. In the second case, hypertrophied heart showed focal degeneration of myocardial fibers with a few inflammatory cells in the stroma. The third case showed increase of heart weight, but neither myocardial degeneration nor inflammatory infiltration was noted except for moderate myocardial hypertrophy. Although the cause of difference in degree of myocardial changes is not yet clear, it may be attributed to the blood catecholamine level and/or duration of disease and/or area examined. A relative hypoxia theory is accepted for the mechanism of catecholamine-induced cardiopathy. This theory is supported by more severe lesions being noted near to the cardiac apex corresponding to peripheral coronary circulation.