title: Cardiopathia fantastica and arteritis factitia as manifestations of Munchausen syndrome.
abstract: We describe three patients, each with a cardiovascular presentation of Munchausen's syndrome. Two patients' symptoms masqueraded as unstable angina (cardiopathia fantastica); one required intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, while repeated cardiac catheterizations revealed normal coronary arteries. The third patient, with at least 27 documented hospital admissions, first presented as the cardiopathia fantastica variety and progressed to recurrent thromboembolism and limb amputations as a result of iatrogenic complications induced by angiographic and surgical procedures (arteritis factitia).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009110:Munchausen Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*