"Apical sparing" T-wave inversion in a case of mid-ventricular takotsubo syndrome

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2021 Mar;44(3):559-563. doi: 10.1111/pace.14165. Epub 2021 Jan 18.

Abstract

Previous studies showed that myocardial edema correlates with dynamic T-wave inversion and QTc prolongation in a variety of acute cardiovascular diseases including takotsubo syndrome (TTS). We reported the case of a patient with "atypical" (mid-ventricular) TTS showing a unique pattern of diffuse T-wave inversion that spared only the apical precordial leads V3-V4. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) showed myocardial edema involving all mid-ventricular segments but not the apex. Both ECG and CMR normalized at follow-up evaluation. This case further reinforces the theory of an association between presence and regional distribution of acute myocardial inflammation and dynamic repolarization changes.

Keywords: T2-weighted sequences; cardiac magnetic resonance; electrocardiography; myocardial edema; myocardial inflammation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / diagnosis*
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / physiopathology*