Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following cerebral infarction involving the insular cortex.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by clinical features similar to those of acute myocardial ischemia, but without angiographic evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease. We present a patient with takotsubo cardiomyopathy following acute infarction involving the left insular cortex.

CASE REPORT:

A 52-year-old man was admitted with acute infarction of the left middle cerebral artery territory and acute chest pain. Acute myocardial infarction was suspected because of elevated serum troponin levels and hypokinesia of the left ventricle on echocardiography. However, a subsequent coronary angiography revealed no stenosis within the coronary arteries or ballooning of the apical left ventricle.

CONCLUSIONS:

We postulated that catecholamine imbalance due to the insular lesion could be responsible for these interesting features.

• Authors: Hyun-Ji Cho, Hahn Young Kim, Seol Heui Han, Hyun Joong Kim, Yeon Sil Moon, Jeeyoung Oh
• Journal: Journal of clinical neurology (Seoul, Korea) (J Clin Neurol) Vol. 6 Issue 3 Pg. 152-5 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 2005-5013 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 20944817 (Publication Type: Journal Article)