A case of an 81-year-old woman with ‘broken-heart syndrome’ after a house fire

Teryn Perkins BS, Kenneth Iwuji MD, Phumpattra Chariyawong MD, Leigh Ann Jenkins MD

ABSTRACT

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient cardiomyopathy predominantly characterized by left ventricular hypokinesis and wall motion abnormalities, usually apical ballooning during the systolic phase of heart contraction. The clinical presentation may closely mimic acute coronary syndrome. The majority of the cases are diagnosed in post-menopausal Caucasian women. The exact mechanism of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is unknown. To avoid complications and mortality, early diagnosis and treatment are important.

Keywords: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome, ventriculogram, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction

Article citation: Perkins T, Iwuji K, Chariyawong P, Jenkins LA. A case of an 81-year-old woman with ‘broken-heart syndrome’ after a house fire. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2017:5(20):54-57.
From: Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
Submitted: 3/17/2017
Accepted: 6/7/2017
Reviewer: Scott Shurmur MD, Aliakbar Arvandi MD
Conflicts of interest: none