Two similar rare cases of recurrent ampulla (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy, which was induced by physical stress of recurrent rhabdomyolysis in case 1 and aggravation of respiratory disease in case 2, are presented. At the initial admission, both patients had typical ampulla cardiomyopathy, which was indicated by transient left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning, but at the second admission, they b...

The noninvasive differentiation between ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy is frequently difficult. We examined the clinical value of stress electrocardiographic gated (ECG-gated) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to identify ischemic cardiomyopathy and detect coronary artery disease (CAD) in 164 patients without known CAD, ejection fraction < or =40% by ECG-gated SPECT, a...

Many case reports have been published of reversible left ventricular dysfunction precipitated by sudden emotional stress. We have evaluated 10 women hospitalized for acute chest pain and dyspnea, mimicking an acute coronary syndrome, after a severe emotional trigger. Those patients, postmenopausal women, presented ST segment alterations on the EKG, minor elevations of cardiac enzymes, and bioma...

  Transient ischemic left ventricular dilation (TID) is a marker of severe and extensive coronary artery disease as well as an increased risk of adverse outcomes. The patients with more severe and extensive ischemia, multivessel-type of perfusion abnormality as well as patients with left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory perfusion abnormality have more probab...

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is an acquired form of left ventricular systolic dysfunction seen in the setting of physiologic stress and the absence of coronary artery disease. It is thought to be caused by excessive sympathetic stimulation. It is well described in the adult literature associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage where it is known as neurogen...

Importance. Constrictive pericarditis is a rare clinical entity that frequently necessitates surgical intervention. Here we present a case of biventricular failure due to stress cardiomyopathy after pericardiectomy. This is an extremely rare complication that is not well described and does not have a definitive mechanism. Observations. A 40-year-old Ecuadorian woman who was found to have constr...

Mice with disruption of adenylyl cyclase type 5 (AC5 knockout, KO) live a third longer than littermates. The mechanism, in part, involves the MEK/ERK pathway, which in turn is related to protection against oxidative stress. The AC5 KO model also protects against diabetes, obesity, and the cardiomyopathy induced by aging, diabetes, and cardiac stress and also demonstrates improved exercise capac...

Introduction Patients with myasthenia crisis can develop Takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy (SC) due to emotional or physical stress and high level of circulating catecholamines. We report a patient who developed recurrent Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during myasthenia crisis. Coexisting autoimmune disorders known to precipitate stress cardiomyopathy like Grave's disease need to be evaluated. Case R...

Whenever a new and previously unrecognized medical condition enters our consciousness, considerable confusion and uncertainly can ensue. If a patient is afflicted by such a disease state, the natural reaction is, “I have never heard of what I have,” triggering considerable personal and family anxiety. Such is the case with the condition we now call takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which has received c...