Inverted Takotsubo Following a Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy, Treated with Levosimendan.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome is a transient stunned myocardium that typically involves the apical and mid-ventricular segments. A variant, called Inverted Takotsubo, concerns the basal and mid-ventricular segments. Case summary: We present a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that was responsible for a catecholamine surge, which led to this stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Transthoracic echocardiography showed mid-basal segments akinesia and hypercontractility of the apical segments. Biology has shown mild elevated troponin and NT-pro-BNP levels which led to performing a coronary angiography that showed no angiographic stenosis. A left ventricle angiography evoked the diagnosis of inverted Takotsubo. The patient has received Levosimendan to allow progressive weaning of catecholamine inotropes. The clinical evolution was favorable. Echocardiography performed after 3 weeks, showed ad-integrum restitution of the left ventricular function. Discussion: Takotsubo syndrome should be evoked whenever a context of physical or psychological stress is present. We underline the usefulness of Levosimendan as a nonadrenergic inotrope in this particular context. How to cite this article: Ghariani A, Dhiab L, Ferhi F, Abdessalem MAB, Mahdhaoui A, Jazia KB, et al. Inverted Takotsubo Following a Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy, Treated with Levosimendan. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(2):228-230.

Endothelial protein C receptor 1651C/G polymorphism and soluble endothelial protein C receptor levels in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage.

High levels of soluble endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) induce coagulation dysfunction by inhibiting protein C activation, and activated protein C (APC) activity. We tested whether EPCR 1651C/G promoter variant and changes in plasma soluble EPCR levels are risk factors for idiopathic recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM). A case-control study involving 283 RSM cases and 380 age and BMI-matched control women. EPCR 1651C/G genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method. Plasma-soluble EPCR levels were measured with ELISA. The 1651G allele frequency and C/G genotype were significantly higher in RSM cases than controls; none of the cases or control participants was a 1651G/G homozygote. Lower soluble EPCR levels were seen in RSM cases compared to controls, and higher soluble EPCR levels were seen in 1651C/G compared to 1651C/C carriers in cases and controls. Lower soluble EPCR levels were seen in cases, both in 1651C/C (P = 0.0046) and 1651C/G (P = 0.0032) genotype carriers. Multivariate analysis demonstrated strong association of EPCR 1651C/G [P = 0.011; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.13 (1.31-7.60)], but not soluble EPCR plasma levels [P = 0.067; aOR (95% CI) = 1.01 (1.00-1.10)], with increased RSM risk. In addition, smoking was independently associated with increased RSM risk [P = 0.002; aOR (95% CI) = 2.86 (1.48-5.52)]. EPCR 1651C/G polymorphism and elevated soluble EPCR levels but low soluble EPCR levels increase the risk of idiopathic RSM. Replication studies on other racial groups, and other EPCR gene variants, are warranted.

Genetic variations in the interleukin-21 gene and the risk of recurrent idiopathic spontaneous miscarriage.

OBJECTIVES: Insofar as recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM) is linked with dysregulated immunity and inflammatory changes, and given the pro-inflammatory role of interleukin-21 (IL-21), we examined the association between IL-21 polymorphisms and RSM. METHODS AND RESULTS: IL-21 rs2055979, rs13143866, rs9992580, and rs4833837 were genotyped in 235 cases of RSM and 235 controls. Regression analysis was employed in assessing the contribution of IL-21 variants to the overall RSM risk. Higher minor allele and genotype frequencies of rs2055979 and rs13143866, but not rs9992580 or rs4833837, were seen in RSM patients than in the controls. IL-21 haplotype [rs9992580/rs4833837/rs2055979/rs13143866] analysis revealed a lower frequency of the TGCG haplotype, and a higher frequency of the GGCG and GAAA haplotypes in patients, thus conferring protection from or a susceptibility to RSM by these haplotypes respectively. Regression analysis confirmed the association of TGCG [OR (95%CI)=0.09 (0.05-0.16)], and GGCG [OR (95%CI)=2.52 (1.34-4.54)] and GAAA [OR (95%CI)=4.02 (2.20-7.70)] haplotypes, after adjusting for age and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that IL-21 is a novel susceptibility gene for RSM.