Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Internal Carotid Artery Dissection in Rapid Succession
Jose L Vega1, Jasrai Gill2, Kyle Wiseman3
1Teleneurología SAS, Envigado, Colombia; Hackensack Meridian Health, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Stafford, New Jersey, USA.
Insights
This case report details a rare instance of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) and internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection occurring together. The rapid succession suggests a potential shared trigger for these cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is often linked with spontaneous coronary artery dissection.
- Extracoronary arterial dissections are rarely reported in conjunction with TC.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with symptoms of TC following severe emotional distress.
- She later developed an internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection six days after initial TC diagnosis and management.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of TC and ICA dissection occurring in rapid succession.
- The temporal proximity suggests a possible shared pathophysiological mechanism.
Implications:
- TC may be associated with extracardiac arterial dissections, not just cardiac ones.
- Investigating potential shared triggers for TC and arterial dissections is warranted.
Background:
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) frequently co-occurs with spontaneous coronary artery dissection, but its co-occurrence with extracoronary arterial dissections is rare.
Case Summary:
A 68-year-old woman with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes reported lower abdominal pain and vomiting amid severe emotional distress. Within hours of admission to the hospital, she developed acute coronary syndrome and was diagnosed with TC, which was managed with dual antiplatelet therapy. Six days later, she returned with acute-onset left-sided weakness due to an internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection. She underwent thrombolysis, followed by urgent endovascular stenting, resulting in full recovery.
Discussion:
This is the first report of TC and ICA dissection occurring in rapid succession. The close temporal relationship between TC and ICA dissection in this case suggests a shared pathophysiological trigger.
Take-Home Message:
TC can occur in association with both apparently spontaneous intracardiac and extracardiac arterial dissections.
More Related Videos
07:46Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion as an Adequate Preconditioning Stimulus to Induce Early Ischemic Tolerance to Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: May 9, 2013
09:36A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Computational Protocol for Analysis of Plaque Morphology and Hemodynamics in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: August 12, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
The Arch of Aorta
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Arteries of the Head and Neck
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
