Mitochondrial A3243G Mutation With Manifestation of Acute Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

A 35-year-old woman (body mass index, 16 kg/m2; height, 140 cm) presented to the emergency ward with severe dyspnea of acute onset. The medical history was noteworthy for bilateral hypacusis treated with a hearing aid. On admission, the laboratory results revealed an N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide level of 10 219 ng/L (normal <200 ng/L). Thoracic CT scan excluded pulmonary embolism but showed cardiomegaly with pericardial and bilateral pleural effusion suggesting the presence of acute heart failure. Cardiac MRI (CMR) demonstrated a severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 13%) and severe right ventricular dysfunction (Figure 1A and 1B, baseline); LV mass index was normal. Late gadolinium enhancement images demonstrated extensive subepicardial lesions in inferior and lateral LV segments (Figure 1C, baseline). The angiogram excluded a coronary pathology, and myocardial histology …