[Tako-tsubo-like syndrome without emotional stress: a case report]

Abstract

The tako-tsubo-like syndrome (also named left ventricular apical ballooning) is an unusual cardiomyopathy with a high incidence in the Japanese female population, following an emotional stress. The clinical features (typical chest pain), electrocardiographic (negative T wave and persistent ST-segment elevation in anterior leads), echocardiographic (transient left ventricular apical dysfunction with hyperkinesis of basal segments) are suggestive of an acute anterior myocardial infarction; nevertheless all reports in the literature show coronary arteries without angiographic lesions. We report the case of a 77-year-old female (without cardiovascular risk factors) with two prior episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who arrived to the emergency department with chest pain, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features, suggestive of an acute anterior myocardial infarction, not preceded by any emotional stress. Coronary angiography showed coronary arteries without atherosclerotic lesions; left ventriculography showed an anteroapical dysfunction. The follow-up performed with transthoracic echocardiography (2 months later) showed complete regression of regional wall motion abnormalities. The pathophysiological determinant seems to be related to the release of catecholamines (such as epinephrine and norepinephrine) able to create a transient board of ischemic cardiomyopathy through a direct cellular damage.