Bradycardiomyopathy: The case for a causative relationship between severe sinus bradycardia and heart failure

Abstract

Bradycardiomyopathy. A 28-year-old man presented with progressive fatigue. Physical examination and ECG revealed severe sinus bradycardia. Echocardiography showed features of noncompaction cardiomyopathy and moderate aortic valve regurgitation. We hypothesized that the chronic volume overload exaggerated by prolonged diastole due to the bradycardia resulted in heart failure and noncompaction cardiomyopathy look-alike features. After implantation of an AAI pacemaker, his symptoms and signs of cardiomyopathy were fully recovered. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.