A Case of Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy After Ketamine Infusion.

We report the case of a 64-year-old female with a history of hypothyroidism and isolated parotid sarcoidosis who presented with acute-onset chest pain and dyspnea. Echocardiogram demonstrated transiently reduced ejection fraction with apical hypokinesis, without evidence of obstructive coronary lesions on angiography, compatible with stress-induced cardiomyopathy. She received a ketamine infusion as a mental health treatment shortly before the development of symptoms, suggesting that this medication may have precipitated her cardiomyopathy. In recent years, ketamine has become a popular option for treating mental health disorders, including major depressive disorder and substance use disorders. It should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease, and its cardiac effects warrant further study.

Volvulus is Stressful: Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Gastric Volvulus and Paraesophageal Hernia.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a cardiac systolic dysfunction caused by various stressful triggers. It is often transient and reversible upon the reversal of the underlying stressor. We present the case of a 70-year-old female with SCM in the setting of gastric volvulus and incarcerated para-esophageal hernia.

Takotsubo syndrome after bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty - A case report.

Introduction: Cardiac complications represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality especially after bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (BS-TKA). Takotsubo syndrome after BS-TKA has not been described in the literature. Case presentation: A 60 years-old women underwent BS- TKA and she suddenly developed bradycardia and hypotension after second knee wound closure. The electrocardiography revealed ST elevation and echocardiography showed apical hypokinesia of left ventricle. Coronary angiography revealed normal epicardial coronaries and a provisional diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was made. Serial ECGs revealed resolution of ST elevation and normal LV function within 5 days. On one-year follow up, she was able to do all her normal activities, and 12-lead electrocardiography were back to normal. Conclusion: Cardiac complications represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality especially after BS-TKA. Surgeons must be vigilant in the postoperative period for any likely precipitating factors of stress induced cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo syndrome should be considered as a differential diagnosis with features of acute coronary syndrome in elderly post-menopausal patients.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and psychiatric illness- insight from National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and National Re-admission Database (NRD) 2016 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Emotional stress is a common precipitating cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). Preexisting psychiatric disorder (PD) was linked to worsening outcomes in patients with TC1,2. However, there is limited data in literature to support this. This study aimed to determine the differences in outcomes in TC patients with and without PD. METHODS: We identified all patients with a diagnosis of TC using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the National Readmission Database (NRD) data from 2016 to 2018. The patients were separated into TC with PD group and TC without PD group. Multiple variable logistic regression was then performed. RESULTS: Using NIS 2016-2018, we identified 23,220 patients with TC, and 43.11% had PD. The mean age was 66.73 ± 12.74 years, with 90.42% being female sex. The TC with PD group had a higher 30-readmission rate 1.25 (95% CI:1.06-1.47), Cardiogenic shock [aOR = 7.3 (95%CI 3.97-13.6), Mechanical ventilation [aOR = 4.2 (95%CI 2.4-7.5), Cardiac arrest [aOR = 2.6 (95%CI 1.1-6.3), than TC without PD group. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric disorders were found in up to 43% of patients with TC. The concomitant PD in TC patients was not associated with increased mortality, AKI, but had higher rates of cardiogenic shock, use of mechanical ventilation and cardiac arrest. The TC group with PD was also associated with increased 30-day readmission, LOS and total charges compared to TC patients without PD.

Histological and functional assessment of a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy model established by immobilization stress.

INTRODUCTION: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, resembles acute heart failure syndrome but lacks disease-specific diagnosis and treatment strategies. TTC accounts for approximately 5-6% of all suspected cases of acute coronary syndrome in women. At present, animal models of TTC are often created by large amounts of exogenous catecholamines such as isoproterenol. However, isoproterenol injection cannot fully simulate the onset of stress-induced cardiomyopathy in humans since stress is not an instantaneous event. METHODS: Rats were immobilized for 6 h per day for 1-14 days. To examine whether the TTC model was successful, echocardiography was employed; Elisa detected serum sympathetic activation markers; and the Open-Field test (OFT) was used to analyze behavioral changes in rats after stress. Western blot and histology were used to assess sympathetic remodeling, inflammation levels, and fibrosis; qRT-PCR was used to explore the levels of fibrosis and myocardial hypertrophy. The electrical stability of ventricular was determined by electrophysiological testing. RESULTS: The rats showed severe stress behavior and local sympathetic remodeling of the heart after only 1 day of stress. After 3 days of stress, the induction of ventricular tachyarrhythmia increased prominently. The highest incidence of TTC in rats was at 5 days of immobilization stress. The pathological left ventricular remodeling caused by immobilization (IMO) stress includes inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis, and myocardial hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the hypothesis that IMO stress can mimic Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and the various effects on the heart depending on the duration of IMO stress. We observed the highest incidence of TTC occurred after 5 days of stress. Furthermore, there is a gradual occurrence of electrical and structural remodeling as the stress duration prolongs.

Acute Cardiomyopathy in a Prisoner on a Hunger Strike.

Chronic starvation and its associated metabolic derangements are known to have dangerous cardiovascular implications in the long term, but less is known about the cardiovascular consequences of acute starvation, such as in the context of a hunger strike. This case describes a patient who presented with signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome which began two weeks into a hunger strike and was ultimately found to have stress cardiomyopathy with complete resolution on subsequent imaging.

Takotsubo Syndrome and Coronary Artery Disease: Which Came First-The Chicken or the Egg?

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a clinical condition characterized by temporary regional wall motion anomalies and dysfunction that extend beyond a single epicardial vascular distribution. Various pathophysiological mechanisms, including inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, direct catecholamine toxicity, metabolic changes, sympathetic overdrive-mediated multi-vessel epicardial spasms, and transitory ischemia may cause the observed reversible myocardial stunning. Despite the fact that TTS usually has an acute coronary syndrome-like pattern of presentation, the absence of culprit atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is often reported at coronary angiography. However, the idea that coronary artery disease (CAD) and TTS conditions are mutually exclusive has been cast into doubt by numerous recent studies suggesting that CAD may coexist in many TTS patients, with significant clinical and prognostic repercussions. Whether the relationship between CAD and TTS is a mere coincidence or a bidirectional cause-and-effect is still up for debate, and misdiagnosis of the two disorders could lead to improper patient treatment with unfavourable outcomes. Therefore, this review seeks to provide a profound understanding of the relationship between CAD and TTS by analyzing potential common underlying pathways, addressing challenges in differential diagnosis, and discussing medical and procedural techniques to treat these conditions appropriately.

Heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction after liver transplantation: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is a strenuous event for the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular events (CVE), including heart failure (HF), arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia, are important causes of peri- and post-liver transplantation morbidity and mortality. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 45-year-old male patient who developed heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after receiving liver transplantation (LT) for end-stage post-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated borderline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50% and diastolic dysfunction grade 2. On coronary angiography, the patient had no coronary stenoses. Persistent vasopressor need, increasing creatinine levels and progressive pleural effusion characterized the early postoperative period. TTE on postoperative day 6 revealed a new finding of a markedly reduced LVEF of 15%, accompanied by a discrete increase in hs-TnI and CK-MB without electrocardiographic (ECG) ST-T abnormalities. LVEF did not recover completely (EF 45%) during follow-up. The patient had a sudden death 4.5 months post-liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: Our case demonstrates that the risk of post-LT systolic dysfunction is not excluded by preoperative resting examinations within normal range and highlights the need for preoperative cardiac stress assessment (e.g. dobutamine echocardiography or stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) before LT. In addition, patients on a liver-transplant waiting list with cardiac dysfunction should be followed by a multidisciplinary team including a dedicated cardiology team experienced in managing liver-related cardiac pathology.

One Patient: Two Variants of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a form of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy that can present with signs of heart failure and volume overload; it often mimics acute coronary syndrome. It is characterized by stress-induced transient left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Echocardiography classically demonstrates LV apical ballooning and akinesis in typical TCM, although other less common variants exist. Patients typically present with one variant. A 32-year-old woman with a past medical history of alcohol use disorder, anxiety, and hypertension presented to the hospital with chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with cardiogenic shock in the setting of a newly identified LV ejection fraction (EF) of 24% on echocardiogram with findings consistent with typical apical TCM. Ischemic workup was unremarkable, and she was medically managed with clinical improvement and subsequent recovery of cardiac function. Four months later, the patient presented with similar symptoms at which time she was found to have a recurrence of heart failure with reduced LV EF; echocardiography showed reverse TCM. Patients with TCM who develop a recurrence typically maintain the same variant. The recurrence of TCM in a single patient with different anatomical variants is rare and poorly understood. We presented a case of a patient with alcohol use disorder who developed a recurrence of TCM with two anatomical variants. Further studies are necessary to investigate the predictors of recurrence and better understand the underlying mechanisms behind the different variants.

The Critical Role of Lambda-Shaped QRS-ST-T Wave Fusion ST-Elevation in Diagnosing and Managing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, commonly known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute and transient ventricular systolic dysfunction that often presents with chest pain and may resemble an acute coronary syndrome. This case report discusses a complex clinical scenario involving an adult female with severe depression who attempted suicide through drug overdose, subsequently developing serotonin syndrome. Her clinical presentation was further complicated by the emergence of a unique lambda-shaped triangular QRS-ST-T waveform fusion ST-elevation electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern closely mimicking an anterolateral occlusive myocardial infarction. The study delves into the clinical implications of this unique ECG pattern in TCM, providing valuable insights into diagnosing and treating such complex cases. This case underscores the importance of recognizing diverse manifestations of TCM and its potential for severe cardiovascular complications.

Stress Cardiomyopathy Following Thoracostomy Tube Placement and Hemothorax Drainage: A Case Report.

Stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a clinical phenomenon presenting symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome and defined by acute, but transient, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. However, no obstructive coronary lesion is identified on catheterization, and pathognomic echocardiogram findings are typically encountered. Multiple causes have been posited in the literature (e.g., severe stress, anxiety, pain, comorbid illness, trauma). We present the case of a 46-year-old female who presented to the emergency department (ED) for delayed left-sided hemothorax (six weeks following a high-speed motor vehicle collision) and developed an acute SCM following large-bore chest tube placement. To our knowledge, no prior cases have been reported immediately following thoracostomy tube placement and hemothorax drainage in the ED setting. We explore possible mechanistic explanations related to our case, which adds to the existing literature on the subject.

The Immunology of Takotsubo Syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a disorder characterized by transient cardiac dysfunction with ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities, primarily thought to be caused by the effects of a sudden catecholamine surge on the heart. Although the majority of patients exhibit prompt recovery of their cardiac dysfunction, TTS remains associated with increased mortality rates acutely and at long-term, and there is currently no cure for TTS. Inflammation has been shown to play a key role in determining outcomes in TTS patients, as well as in the early pathogenesis of the disorder. There are also cases of TTS patients that have been successfully treated with anti-inflammatory therapies, supporting the importance of the inflammatory response in TTS. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the available clinical and pre-clinical literature on the immune response in TTS, in an effort to not only better understand the pathophysiology of TTS but also to generate insights on the treatment of patients with this disorder.

Thyrotoxicosis in the Setting of Hydatidiform Mole with Subsequent Development of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Complicated by COVID-19.

We present a rare case of hydatidiform molar pregnancy, which led to the development of thyroid storm, followed by a rare complication of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of a COVID-19 infection. A 21-year-old female of 22 weeks gestational age presented with heavy vaginal blood loss, brown emesis, tachycardia, and lethargy. Through clinical presentation and ultrasound confirmation, a molar pregnancy was diagnosed. Laboratory data and clinical presentation of thyrotoxicosis supported a diagnosis of thyroid storm. Test for COVID-19 was positive. The patient was treated with dilation and curettage, antithyroid medication, and blood transfusions, resulting in symptom resolution. Thereafter, echocardiography confirmed takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is suspected that the homology in structure between the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and thyroid stimulating hormone subunits resulted in thyroid storm secondary to receptor cross-reactivity. We speculate that subsequent cardiovascular stress of b-hCG-induced thyroid storm with superimposed COVID-19 infection facilitated the development of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Heart Break or Headache: A Case Report of Sumatriptan-Induced Takotsubo Syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) describes a transient type of dilated cardiomyopathy that mimics acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on initial presentation. Classic TS presents with marked dilation and ballooning of the left ventricular apex with hyperdynamic basal segments. The most frequent etiology is from emotional and stressful triggers; recently, evidence suggests neurologic and psychiatric involvement. There are increasing reports of TS occurring secondary to migraine abortives. We describe a unique case of TS in a woman after taking sumatriptan to abort her headache.

Clinical outcomes of takotsubo syndrome in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recent studies suggested a relationship between Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and malignancy. However, clinical outcomes of TTS associated with cancer have not been assessed completely. This study was aimed to investigate the outcomes of patients with TTS and cancer. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical outcomes of TTS in patients with and without malignancy. We systematically reviewed and analyzed 14 studies (189,210 patients) published in PubMed and Cochrane Library databases until December 2022. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at the longest follow-up. Results: The prevalence of current or previous malignancy in patients with TTS was 8.7% (16,461 patients). Patients with TTS and malignancy demonstrated a higher risk of mortality at the longest follow-up than those with TTS alone (odds ratio [OR], 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.95-2.98; P < 0.001). Moreover, cancer was significantly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital or 30-day mortality (OR 2.36; 95% CI, 1.67-3.33; P < 0.001), shock (OR 1.42; 95% CI, 1.30-1.55; P < 0.001), mechanical respiratory support (OR 1.68; 95% CI, 1.59-1.77; P < 0.001), arrhythmia (OR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.21-1.34; P < 0.001), and major adverse cardiac events (OR 1.69; 95% CI, 1.18-2.442; P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study revealed significant associations between previous or active cancer and an increased risk of all-cause mortality and in-hospital adverse events in patients with TTS.

Stress Cardiomyopathy Induced by Refractory Hypoglycemia Due to Acute Sulfonylurea Intoxication.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a reversible syndrome that resembles a myocardial infarction but without typical coronary stenosis and with an apical "ballooning" image present on an echocardiogram. Multiple triggers have been linked to TCM but rarely, acute severe hypoglycemia. This is a case of a 39-year-old woman who was brought to the emergency department after being found unresponsive at home. She was severely hypoglycemic with a glucose of 18 mg/dL and suspected to have sulfonylurea intoxication. The patient was intubated and transferred to our ICU from an outside facility for a higher level of care. The patient was noted to have an elevated troponin and the initial echocardiogram demonstrated TCM. The patient remained persistently hypoglycemic, despite continuous dextrose infusion and glucagon treatment. Stress dose steroids were added with the eventual resolution of hypoglycemia. A repeat echocardiogram demonstrated the resolution of TCM.

Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Masquerading as Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial stress can lead to a myriad of cardiovascular complications, and stress-induced cardiomyopathy is the predominant manifestation. Exogenous or endogenous hormonal excess, sepsis, tachycardia, and physical or emotional trauma can lead to neurohormonal and catecholaminergic surges. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy often presents with chest pain, ischemic-like ECG changes, troponin elevation, and wall motion abnormalities in echocardiography. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, and coronary artery disease needs to be ruled out by a normal angiogram as per guidelines. It presents predominantly in postmenopausal women and presentation is similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to plaque rupture. We report a case of a 72-year-old female who presented to the emergency room with severe anginal chest pain without any preceding stress. ECG showed lateral leads ST-elevation and serial serum troponins were elevated. Emergent cardiac catheterization showed insignificant coronary artery disease. Left ventriculogram and echocardiogram showed a moderately reduced left ventricular systolic function with akinetic-hypokinetic mid to distal myocardial segments and normal basal contraction suggestive of stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

When a Tooth Pulls the Heart Strings: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Post-dental Extraction.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a temporary left ventricular dysfunction caused by a catecholamine surge under severe stress. It's characterized by chest pain, non-specific ECG changes, and left ventricular apical ballooning observed during catheterization. We present a case of a 59-year-old postmenopausal female with a past medical history of asthma who arrived at the ED complaining of chest pain following dental extraction. The patient's abnormal ECG findings and elevated cardiac enzymes required cardiac catheterization, which revealed normal coronary vasculature but demonstrated left ventricular apical ballooning. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed septal left ventricular hypertrophy, decreased ejection fraction (EF), and akinetic segments consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Secondary takotsubo cardiomyopathy induced by stress in the setting of dental procedures like a tooth extraction for a periapical dental abscess is rarely described in the literature. Our case serves as a reminder of the potential for stress-induced cardiomyopathy in postmenopausal women, especially those with undiagnosed underlying anxiety disorders, even following minimally invasive procedures.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered by Acute Intermittent Porphyria.

Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a reversible condition characterized by myocardial akinesis due to catecholamine-mediated myocardial stunning. Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is associated with a rise in catecholamine, which could trigger TC. This study aims to evaluate patients with porphyria-triggered TC. Methods Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to study the prevalence rate and clinical outcome of porphyria-triggered TC among patients with TC. Results Overall, 32,500 cases were admitted between 2012 and 2016 with TC. The rates of smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were 28%, 54%, 45%, and 23%, respectively. Six and three percent had cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest, respectively. The overall inpatient mortality was 5.4%. Out of 32,500 patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, only three of these cases were found to have porphyria. Patients with porphyria were not significantly different in the baseline health characteristics from patients without porphyria. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the inpatient clinical outcomes between patients with porphyria vs. patients without porphyria.  Conclusion TC triggered by porphyria is a rare disease. Patients with this disease have an excellent short-term prognosis. Beta-blocker medications might be effective in these patients to reduce the risk of recurrence. Further prospective studies are needed to test the effectiveness of beta-blocker in reducing the recurrence of TC.