Stress cardiomyopathy and arrhythmic storm in a 14-year-old boy

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2010 Jul;11(7):519-21. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0b013e328330ebf8.

Abstract

Stress cardiomyopathy is a newly described reversible cardiomyopathy, characterized by transient cardiac dysfunction usually precipitated by intense emotional or physical stress. Apart from the classical apical ballooning syndrome (Takotsubo), it is now increasingly recognized that the spectrum of stress cardiomyopathies is quite wide, with significant individual variations in clinical and morphological pattern. Very recently, it has been suggested that, in young boys in stressful situations, atypical forms of stress cardiomyopathy could be associated with malignant arrhythmias. We describe the case of a 14-year-old boy, in whom stress cardiomyopathy with mid-ventricular ballooning started with an arrhythmic storm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenergic Agonists / adverse effects*
  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects*
  • Cardiovascular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Electric Countershock
  • Electrocardiography
  • Epinephrine / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / therapy
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / etiology*
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / physiopathology
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / etiology*
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / therapy

Substances

  • Adrenergic Agonists
  • Cardiovascular Agents
  • Epinephrine