Atypical presentation of severe pre-eclampsia with sinus bradycardia and chest pain

Abstract

This is a case report of an observation of bradycardia and inverted T-waves anteroseptally on the electrocardiogram along with cardiac symptoms, in a previously healthy 35-year-old woman with post-partum pre-eclampsia. Initially, she had no hypertension or proteinuria, which delayed the time of diagnosis. A possible explanation of bradycardia is a baroreceptor-mediated response to hypertension and hypervolaemia. The changes on the electrocardiogram can be explained by pectus excavatum, an enlarged uterus and endothelial dysfunction. One should always consider peri-partum as well as post-partum pre-eclampsia.