[Cardiomyopathy: first clinical manifestation of a pheochromocytoma--case report]

Abstract

Stress cardiomyopathy clinical presentation mimics an acute coronary syndrome. It is characterized by left ventricular multi-segmental commitment, absence of significant coronary artery disease and by the complete resolution of all the findings. Its pathophysiology is not yet clear, but the main theory suggests a catecholamine-mediated cardiotoxicity mechanism. Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor producer of catecholamines with several cardiovascular manifestations. We report a case of stress cardiomyopathy that was the first clinical manifestation of an unknown pheochromocytoma.