Seizure-Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following an Epileptic Event

Abstract

We present a case, written with the assistance of the Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (ChatGPT) Artificial Intelligence (AI), of a 75-year-old female with a history of hypertension, epilepsy, coronary artery disease, and alcohol use disorder. She presented with a tonic-clonic seizure, tachycardia, and a cyanotic right hand. Diagnostic tests revealed stress-induced cardiomyopathy, patent bilateral subclavian and axillary arteries with heavy calcification of bilateral upper extremity arteries, and a small filling defect in the segmental branch of the left lower lobe. The patient was started on antiepileptic medication, thiamine/folate, and heparin drip for limb ischemia. Despite treatment with multiple anti-arrhythmic agents, the patient developed cardiogenic shock and underwent left heart catheterization with Impella placement. The Impella was removed 72 hours after placement, and the patient was started on low-dose Milrinone and Levophed for hemodynamic support. The patient eventually recovered and was discharged to long-term acute care.