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COVID-19-associated takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Joanne Michelle Dumlao Gomez1, Gatha Nair2, Prema Nanavaty3
1Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA joannemichelle_d_gomez@rush.edu.
Insights
COVID-19 can cause heart problems like takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). This case shows a woman with COVID-19 who developed TCM and shock, highlighting critical care needs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread cardiovascular complications.
- Heart failure is a significant sequela of COVID-19, associated with poorer outcomes.
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a recognized cardiac complication.
Observation:
- A rare case of a 57-year-old female patient with COVID-19 is presented.
- The patient experienced acute left ventricular systolic dysfunction with apical ballooning, indicative of TCM.
- She also presented with mixed cardiogenic and septic shock.
Findings:
- COVID-19 infection can precipitate takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
- TCM in the context of COVID-19 can lead to severe hemodynamic compromise, including mixed shock.
- Diagnosis of TCM involves characteristic echocardiographic findings and clinical presentation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diverse cardiovascular manifestations of COVID-19.
- It emphasizes the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach for managing critically ill COVID-19 patients.
- Effective clinical decision-making and resource allocation are crucial for optimizing outcomes in severe COVID-19 cases.
Abstract:
The novel COVID-19 has had an unprecedented and devastating spread internationally. COVID-19 infection can lead to a number of cardiovascular sequelae, including heart failure, which may portend worse clinical outcomes. Here, we report a rare case of a 57-year-old woman who developed acute left ventricular systolic dysfunction with apical ballooning consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), and mixed cardiogenic and septic shock in the setting of COVID-19 disease. We briefly review the pathophysiology and diagnosis of TCM (also described as apical ballooning syndrome and stress-induced cardiomyopathy). Additionally, this case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to clinical decision-making and resource allocation in diagnosis and management of critical illness in the setting of the ongoing international COVID-19 pandemic.
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