A rare case of takotsubo syndrome within the first day after heart transplantation

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2019 Oct 7;89(3). doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2019.1149.

Abstract

A 39-year-old woman underwent heart transplantation (HTx) for advanced heart failure. The donor was a 36-year-old young woman without past medical history. The first day after HTx, T-waves changes were noted. Echocardiography revealed akinesia/dyskinesia of all basal segments of the two ventricles. Coronary catheterization plus biopsy were done 7 days later showing no coronary obstruction, no rejection and complete recovery of wall motion abnormalities on echocardiogram, suggesting biventricular inverted takotsubo syndrome (TTS). This is a case of TTS during the first day after HTx, with completely denervated heart but because of the inotropic drug support it still represents a target for catecholamine-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Medulla / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Catecholamines / blood
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / surgery*
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / diagnostic imaging
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / etiology*
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / physiopathology

Substances

  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Catecholamines