A serious clinical course of a very elderly patient with takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Heart Vessels. 2005 Mar;20(2):77-81. doi: 10.1007/s00380-004-0771-y.

Abstract

An 86-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of vomiting and anorexia. Although serum cardiac markers, an electrocardiogram, and echocardiography suggested acute myocardial infarction, emergency cardiac catheterization revealed akinesis of the left ventricular apex without significant coronary artery stenosis. She was diagnosed as having takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The left ventricular dysfunction was considered transient and reversible but did not improve at all, contrary to our expectations. She died of worsening heart failure on day 14. We discuss this serious clinical course of a very elderly patient with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anorexia / etiology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Disease Progression
  • Diuretics / therapeutic use
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / etiology*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / complications
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / diagnosis*
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / physiopathology
  • Treatment Failure
  • Vomiting / etiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Diuretics