A Rare Case of Gastroparesis-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

This case report includes an extremely rare and intriguing presentation of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), triggered by forceful vomiting in the setting of gastroparesis, a condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying. TCM is a reversible form of cardiomyopathy that typically occurs following a severe emotional or physical stressor. In this exceptional case, we present a patient with an acute severe episode of gastroparesis, followed by TCM, devoid of any recognizable emotional or physical stressors. This case highlights the importance of considering non-traditional triggers in TCM cases.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Complicated by Aorto-Right Ventricular Fistula Repaired Via Valve-in-Valve Replacement.

A 59-year-old man with a history of severe aortic stenosis with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) presented with worsening heart failure. Echocardiography showed a fistula between the aorta and the right ventricle with mild to moderate paravalvular regurgitation. He underwent a valve-in-valve TAVR with symptomatic improvement and decreased flow through the fistula.

A Case of COVID-19-Triggered Polymyositis Leading to Rhabdomyolysis.

SARS-COVID-19 is known to manifest with a wide variety of symptoms, most of which are respiratory. Myalgias are a common symptom of COVID-19, but cases of severe virus-induced inflammatory muscle injury leading to rhabdomyolysis and polymyositis have also been reported. Here, we present and discuss a case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with an initial presentation of COVID-19 infection with inflammatory polymyositis leading to rhabdomyolysis. The patient was first treated for rhabdomyolysis with aggressive fluid resuscitation with intravenous normal saline without improvement in symptoms. She was then started on high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone for presumed immune-mediated polymyositis. An MRI of the bilateral lower extremities and a biopsy of the left thigh confirmed inflammatory myositis. After the initiation of steroids, liver function tests and creatinine kinase levels trended down, and symptoms improved. The patient was discharged with a prednisone taper and completely recovered at a follow-up six months later. Post-COVID severe musculoskeletal involvement, including polymyositis or rhabdomyolysis, is rare, with only a few other cases published so far. Viral myositis, supported by myopathological evidence, should be considered carefully in patients with a recent COVID-19 infection after ruling out more common causes of myositis. Some proposed mechanisms include direct infection of the muscle or an environmental event triggering autoimmunity. Treatment generally involves corticosteroids that are gradually tapered.