Journal of electrocardiology
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Case Reports
Reversible left ventricular dysfunction "takotsubo" cardiomyopathy related to catecholamine cardiotoxicity.
An 80-year-old female was admitted for a persistent consciousness disturbance. Electrocardiography revealed ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVf, and V3-V6. Coronary angiography demonstrated normal arteries, while left ventriculography revealed asynergy of apical akinesis and basal hyperkinesis. ⋯ Within 24 days, the asynergy improved without any specific treatment, but the giant negative T waves were present on the electrocardiogram. The plasma norepinephrine and brain natriuretic peptide levels on the first hospital day were 2.9ng/mL and 906pg/mL, respectively. The left ventricular dysfunction appeared to be induced by the exposure to high-level plasma catecholamines. (123)I-metaiodobenzyl guanidine scintigraphy also revealed transient dysfunction of the cardiac catecholamine dynamics.