Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Sinoatrial Disease: A Rare Presentation.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), or apical ballooning syndrome, is a distinct nonischemic cardiomyopathy mimicking acute coronary syndrome. A 76-year-old female presented with ST elevation in the inferior lead and a troponin level of 0.81 ng/dL. An immediate coronary angiography showed non-obstructive coronary artery disease. A subsequent ventriculogram and echocardiogram showed anteroapical and distal inferior wall hypokinesis suggestive of TCM. Despite therapy with beta blocker, she was observed to have two significant sinus pauses, one eight-second, and a second 29-second pause. An urgent transvenous pacemaker was put in place and later followed by a permanent pacemaker. The patient was discharged on carvedilol and losartan. Although other arrhythmias such as complete heart block, torsades, and ventricular arrhythmias have been commonly reported, the association of TCM with recurrent sinus arrest has rarely been reported in the literature. The occurrence observed in this case implies that patients with TCM should be monitored closely for arrhythmias, and, if such a condition is identified, planning for permanent pacemaker implantation should be started early enough to avoid recurrent life-threatening episodes.

The Disappearing Murmur: Systolic Anterior Motion of the Mitral Valve Leaflet in a Non-hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patient.

Systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve is a well-known phenomenon associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and hemodynamic compromise. This finding may occur in patients with or without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this report, a patient with no prior medical history presented to the hospital with left-sided chest pain and high-risk echocardiogram (ECG) findings. Left heart catheterization with coronary angiography was negative for coronary artery disease. His initial examination was significant for a systolic murmur due to the underlying SAM, as demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiogram. During his hospitalization, he developed acute heart failure syndrome as a result of dynamic outflow tract obstruction. He was treated with fluid resuscitation with a resolution of his hemodynamic compromise. On a follow-up examination, there was no murmur and SAM was no longer present on echocardiogram. This case demonstrates the importance of recognizing the clinical manifestations of SAM as well as its role in maintaining an appropriate hemodynamic status.