Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis in a Patient With Multiple Sclerosis

Takotsubo or stress-induced cardiomyopathy is described as reversible left ventricular dysfunction that develops following a stressful emotional or physical event primarily occurring in postmenopausal females. Many physiologic triggers have been identified in the pathogenesis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, including diseases which affect the central nervous system such as traumatic brain injuries, hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes, epilepsy, and central nervous system infections, including meningitis and encephalitis; however, there are very few published case reports of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of fungal meningoencephalitis. We present a unique case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to Cryptococcus neoformans meningoencephalitis in a middle-aged female with a history of multiple sclerosis who was taking immunosuppressive therapy.