Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an acute cardiac syndrome characterized by transient regional wall motion abnormalities of the left ventricular apex or midventricle. Patients often present with chest pain or dyspnoea, ST-segment elevation, and minor elevations of cardiac enzyme levels. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has been associated with severe emotional or physical stress such as severe burns, spinal cord injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and multiple traumas. We report a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a 79-year-old woman with pulmonary embolism. Although pulmonary embolism has been listed as a potential cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, this is the first case reported with this association.