Cerebral hemorrhage: Precipitating event for a Tako-tsubo-like cardiomyopathy?

Abstract

There have been some reports in medical literature of patients with profound, reversible left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction after sudden emotional stress. Originally, in Japan, the pattern was called tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. ST-segment elevation is seen with this syndrome, and it may look like acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. However, it has also been well established that a subarachnoid hemorrhage can manifest with cardiac abnormalities. The authors describe a case involving a cerebral hemorrhage and a potential tako-tsubo-like cardiomyopathy in the same patient. In conclusion, even though the patient's presentation appears to be a tako-tsubo syndrome, the radiographic evidence of a cerebral hemorrhage presents as a stronger etiology for the cardiac changes that occur in our patient. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.