Impact of age on the outcomes of Takotsubo syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The impact on age on the short-term and long-term prognosis in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether age has prognostic implications during hospital stay and long-term follow-up of TTS patients. METHODS: 688 consecutive patients were admitted for TTS in 7 tertiary centers from January-2008 to June-2021. We divided our cohort into two groups (patients <75 years and ≥75 years). Clinical, analytical, and hemodynamic variables as well as in-hospital management were registered and compared between groups. Mortality rates during hospital stay and follow-up were assessed. Adverse cardiovascular events (ACE) were defined as the composite of cardiovascular death, heart failure event, acute myocardial infarction, stroke and symptomatic arrhythmia. RESULTS: Median age was 74.7 years and 49.4 % were ≥75 years. 86.9 % were women and 22.3 % were secondary forms of TTS. In-hospital mortality was 3.6 % (1.5 % cardiovascular). Median clinical follow-up was 4.3 years. Mortality during the follow-up period was 23 % (5.0 % cardiovascular) while ACE were 22.5 %, mainly due to heart failure events. Kaplan-Meier curves showed both higher rates of mortality and ACE in ≥75 years group (30.2 % vs 15.8 %; p < 0.001 and 28.3 % vs 16.7 %; p < 0.001). Age was independently associated with higher rates of overall mortality and ACE in patients with TTS. Hypertension, absence of sinus rhythm, Killip class > I and a more impaired coronary microvascular resistance were also associated to ACE in TTS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age was associated with higher rate of overall mortality and ACE during long-term follow-up in TTS patients.

Spectre of COVID-19 infection confounding myocarditis related to cytomegalovirus mononucleosis syndrome and hyperinflammatory syndrome.

Viral infections have multiple mechanisms of affecting internal and external organs by direct invasion or by molecular mimicry. They have also been described as triggers for inflammatory processes like hyperinflammatory syndrome (HIS), Adult-onset Stills Disease (AOSD), and myocarditis [1]. Here we report an interesting case of a young adult with recent infection with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) who presented with myocarditis requiring circulatory support in the cardiac care unit. During the admission, he was found to have concurrent cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis syndrome and presentation consistent with HIS resembling AOSD. This patient had multiple etiologies that could have caused myocarditis: CMV infection, COVID-19 infection, and HIS. As noted, viral infections have been proposed as potential triggers for the onset of HIS and AOSD with unknown mechanisms. We aim to add to the literature regarding CMV infection in an immunocompetent host causing myocarditis and HIS with features of AOSD with recent history of COVID-19 infection.

Management of Recurrent Myocarditis Due to Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.

We present the case of a 25-year-old woman with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy-related myocarditis. Her high-sensitivity troponin and symptoms improved with pulse steroid therapy and mycophenolate mofetil. The literature lacks data to effectively guide the management of recurrent myocarditis in desmoplakin cardiomyopathy. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).