[Chronic beta-stimulant therapy: a possible etiopathogenic factor for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

We herein report the case of a 37-year-old woman, referred to our Unit because of atypical chest pain, negative T waves in leads V1-6 and medio-apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography. The patient suffered from status asthmaticus and consequently had been treated for a twenty year period with beta-adrenoceptor stimulating agents, corticosteroids, theophylline. No coronary stenosis was revealed by coronary angiography. The results of electrocardiographic and two-dimensional echocardiographic investigations, performed after interruption of beta-stimulations, showed a regression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We suggest that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy could be induced by beta-adrenergic stimulation.