Progressive Cardiomyopathy in a Patient With Elevated Cobalt Ion Levels and Bilateral Metal-on-Metal Hip Arthroplasties

Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2016 Mar-Apr;45(3):E132-5.

Abstract

Systemic cobalt toxicity is a rare complication after metal-on-metal (MOM) total hip arthroplasty. Here we present a case of progressive cardiomyopathy, as evidenced by biopsy and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in a patient with bilateral MOM total hip arthroplasties. To our knowledge, it is one of the first cases in which cardiomyopathy resulting from systemic cobalt disease has been shown on MRI. While there is no guideline to unequivocally diagnose cobalt cardiomyopathy, the constellation of findings, including pathologic, biologic, blood levels, imaging, and surgical, all uniformly indicate a unifying diagnosis. The lack of improvement after removal of the prosthetic device supports a diagnosis of permanent myocardial damage, which is consistent with cardiomyopathy of advanced toxic etiology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / adverse effects*
  • Cardiomyopathies / blood
  • Cardiomyopathies / chemically induced*
  • Cardiomyopathies / pathology
  • Cobalt / blood
  • Cobalt / poisoning*
  • Hip Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Metal-on-Metal Joint Prostheses / adverse effects*
  • Poisoning / etiology
  • Prosthesis Failure

Substances

  • Cobalt