Stress-induced cardiomyopathy by dobutamine stress echocardiography during recovery stage - A rare presentation

J Cardiol Cases. 2024 Jul 4;30(4):135-137. doi: 10.1016/j.jccase.2024.06.005. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a condition of acute myocardial suppression following an abrupt release of endogenous catecholamines after emotional or physical stress. The exact mechanism is unknown but there are reports of a similar clinical presentation after injection of exogenous catecholamines such as beta agonists. We report a rare type of stress-induced cardiomyopathy following injection of dobutamine during a diagnostic stress echocardiography.

Learning objective: Stress-induced cardiomyopathy by dobutamine stress echocardiography is a rare entity and it should be included as a differential cause of regional wall motion abnormality during stress echocardiography. Physicians must be aware of this since treatment and follow up of these patients may differ from those for other patients and it may cause heart failure.

Keywords: Dobutamine stress echocardiography; Heart failure; Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports