Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy observed in a patient with sepsis and transient hyperthyroidism.

A 55-years-old woman, with a history of hypertension and ischemic stroke with residual left hemiparesis, was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnoea with clinical evidence of acute pulmonary edema. She was found to have a sinus tachycardia with ST-elevation in leads D1, aVL and V1-V4 in the electrocardiogram, and akinesis of the left ventricular apex with overall left ventricular systolic function being severely impaired and an ejection fraction of 28% on echocardiography. Orotracheal intubation was performed and mechanical ventilation was immediately started. Emergency cardiac catheterization was performed 2 h after the symptom onset. Coronary angiography showed no significant coronary artery disease. Blood analysis revealed an increase in the creatine kinase MB fraction, a significant positive detection in troponin T, a white blood cell count of 35000 per microliter, C-reactive protein of 59,9 mg/dl, and transient elevation in the concentration of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyroid globulin antibody, and thyroid peroxidase antibody. The symptoms improved during the next days, and follow-up echocardiography 18 days later showed complete resolution of the left ventricular dysfunction. These data suggest that tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy may be induced in patients with sepsis and transient hyperthyroidism.