Triphasic mitral inflow documented by Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization: a case study.

An 85-year-old woman with hypertension was referred to our hospital for the management of chest pain. Echocardiography showed left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with impaired systolic function (ejection fraction, 40%) and mitral regurgitation. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography for checking mitral inflow showed triphasic mitral inflow velocity. Simultaneous recording of the LV and pulmonary artery wedge (PAW) pressures showed a high mean PAW pressure with a prominent v wave. The LV pressure showed a temporary elevation in early diastole; it was unusually decreased in mid-diastole, and finally was elevated to such an extent that it exceeded PAW pressure. In this patient, the mid-diastolic decrease in LV pressure, despite the presence of simultaneous LV filling flow, cannot be explained by conventional pressure-volume relation; rather it can be attributed to the abrupt increase in the inflow volume due to the impaired diastolic function. This case shows the characteristics of triphasic mitral inflow in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

Coronary spasm as a cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and intraventricular obstruction.

A 79-year-old man presented to the emergency room because of chest pain on 3 successive mornings. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Laboratory findings including cardiac enzymes, were within normal limits, except a positive result for the troponin T test. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed akinesis of the left ventricular apex and hyperkinesis of the basal wall. Doppler echocardiography revealed a significant subaortic pressure gradient. Emergent coronary angiography showed no significant coronary artery stenosis, but the ergonovine test induced a right coronary artery spasm with exaggeration of the ST segment elevation in II, III, and aVF leads. The computed tomography performed 2 weeks later showed normal left ventricular wall motion with sigmoid septum. The patient was diagnosed with takotsubo cardiomyopathy and intraventricular obstruction due to coronary spasm; he was treated with calcium channel blockers and nitrates. This case suggests the importance of differential diagnosis of the pathogenesis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.