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Unusual association of diseases/symptoms
CASE REPORT
Hypothermia-triggered biventricular Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: the octopus that survived the polar vortex
  1. Mustafa Ajam1,
  2. Mohamed Shokr2,
  3. Firas Ajam3 and
  4. Luis Afonso2
  1. 1 Internal Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
  2. 2 Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
  3. 3 Internal Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune City, New Jersey, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Mustafa Ajam, m_ijam{at}yahoo.com, gm0473{at}wayne.edu

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is most commonly characterised by transient apical ballooning in response to physical or emotional stress without significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Various physical and emotional factors can trigger TTC. We report a case of hypothermia-induced biventricular TTC in an 84-year-old man admitted with a core body temperature of 29.8°C, followed by quick recovery of systolic function and resolution of wall motion abnormality after discharge. TTC should be suspected in hypothermic patients presenting with evidence of new onset heart failure and be added to the expanding list of factors triggering TTC. Similar to TTC induced by various other factors, hypothermia-induced TTC also carries a favourable prognosis with relatively quick recovery of wall motion abnormalities.

  • cardiovascular medicine
  • heart failure

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-229761

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MA and MS identified the case and provided care for the patient both inpatient and outpatient. MA, MS and FA collaborated to write the manuscript. LA revised the final version.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.