Summary

An adult man with long-standing poorly controlled cardiac risk factors presented with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Echocardiogram, cardiac MRI and catheterisation suggested idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, severe systolic dysfunction, ejection fraction 25% with global left ventricular (LV) dilation and apical thrombus. He responded well to diuretics and gradual uptitration of lisinopril and carvedilol. Follow-up echocardiogram in 2 months demonstrated complete recovery of systolic function, normalisation of LV size and shape with severe LV hypertrophy. This presentation is potentially a global variant of stress cardiomyopathy with recovery of LV function, highlighting the importance of appropriate imaging, catheterisation and clinical monitoring in patients with ADHF.